The Italian Ambrogio Alciati (1878-1929) was a well-known portrait painter at the beginning of the 20th century, who mainly found his clients among the wealthy Milanese bourgeoisie.
He owed his popularity to his talent to get through to the character of those portrayed.
This gift led in his free work - especially female figures and genre pieces - to the expression of deeply felt human emotions such as passion and emotion.
Alciati was born in 1878 in an artistic environment: both his parents painted.
After the death of his father, it was purely thanks to his artistic talents that he was able to train at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan.
A successful artist, he met Rafaella di Malta in 1917, whom he married six years later.
He may have been inspired for this painting by his love for her. | Source: © Simonis and Buunk