Lot 1955
FRANCESCO LOJACONO (1838-1915)
MONTE PELLEGRINO, BAY OF PALERMO, SICILY
Signed, oil on canvas
48.5 x 75.5cm.
* Lojacono was born in Palermo, Sicily and studied under his father, the history painter Luigi Lojacono (1810-1880). Early acclaim allowed the young Lojacono to move to Naples in 1856, where he was taught by Filippo Palizzi (1818-1899). Following imprisonment during the Revolution, he settled near Palermo and he developed a style remarkable for its clarity of light and the crisp neatness of its technique.
He was appointed Professor at the Naples Institute of Fine Arts in 1872 and taught at the Palermo Academy of Fine Arts from 1896 to 1914. Lojacono exhibited in Austria and France and showed his work with great success in Palermo, including at a major exhibition there in 1891-1892. He was awarded Commendatore of the Order of the Crown of Italy and, alongside Michele Catti (1855-1914) and Antonio Leto (1844-1913), the three artists constitute a noble group of Sicilian landscape artists of the Belle Époque.
The subject of Monte Pellegrino has a special significance for the people of Palermo. Wolfgang Goethe called it "the most beautiful promontory in the world"; the numerous prehistoric caves speak of its historical importance as an ancient settlement; and the sanctuary of St Rosalia, patron saint of Palermo, is located there. From its 606m summit, the whole city of Palermo can be seen.
Provenance: Hugo Schwab (c.1898-1974), an Austrian art collector (notably of Old Master drawings) who established himself after the War in Britain as a businessman involved in the development of metal coat hangers. Schwab was a regular bidder at Sothebys from the 1960's until his death and it is likely that he purchased this lot at that time. This is possibly the lot (63), bought at Sothebys on February 28th 1973, described as `On the Neapolitan Coast` (£1000). It has passed by descent to the vendor.
