A fascinating work of art. Look at the various expressions. Concern (or could it be hope?), interest, compassion and a deep thought process for one. Or is it something else entirely? I think you’ll be surprised (I was!)… The stories that could be told are numerous. This painting is made even more mysterious with the black background. To see these paintings in person at the Detroit Institute of Arts was a dream and I cannot wait to go back! Take a minute to see if you can guess the artist – answer is below…
First of all, it’s hard to believe this painting is over 400 years old. The fact that it has been so well cared for all of these years is a testament to those who truly love and respect art and the historical aspect of it. Do you have an idea who the artist is? This isn’t an easy one (in my opinion)… Answer below…
A N S W E R :
The Fortune Teller, ca. between 1616 and 1617
- Bartolomeo Manfredi, Italian, 1582-1622
Oil on canvas
- Unframed: 48 1/8 × 60 13/16 inches (122.2 × 154.4 cm)
- 62 1/2 × 75 × 4 inches (158.8 × 190.5 × 10.2 cm)
Founders Society Purchase, Acquisitions Fund
Read about this painting (from the DIA.ORG website):
Manfredi’s rendition of deception in this picture is particularly poignant. The young man, so intensely curious about his future, is oblivious to the theft of his money by the fortune-teller’s accomplice. The fortune teller herself, so eager to captivate the young man’s attention, does not notice that his friend is relieving her of a chicken. It is perhaps less a moral lesson that is given here than a matter-of fact pessimistic description of human relationships. Manfredi used dark tonalities to give the scene a sense of a seedy locale, while the life-size scale of the figures makes them part of our world and allows us to participate in their drama.
Detroit Institute of Arts
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WOW, right?
Read about Bartolomeo Manfredi HERE, from artful.org!
IMAGE taken at Detroit Institute of Art
IMAGES ARE NOT FOR REPRODUCTION, THEY ARE PROPERTY OF THE ARTIST/ART INSTITUTE.
From DIA: Bartolomeo Manfredi, The Fortune Teller, ca. between 1616 and 1617, oil on canvas. Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase, Acquisitions Fund, 79.30.
🖼️ Until next time!
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