Andreotti's Character Portraits

Federico Andreotti (Italian, 1847 – 1930) painted studies of characters in situations that he imagined from the 18th and 17th centuries. 

This portrait of a working man clutching a box is as much a study of his hands as it is of his face. 

Federico Andreotti, The Flautist

He would hire models to pose in historic costumes, acting out a simple story with a prop or two. Here, an old flautist balances his music on his bottle of wine.

Federico Andreotti

He also painted coquettish young women wearing dresses from an earlier century.

Federico Andreotti, A Good Vintage

His paintings were very popular in his time, as were those of Ernest Meissonier in France or Norman Rockwell in America.

Federico Andreotti, The Violin Teacher, circa 1875-1890,
Glasgow, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

The fact that most of his figures are lit by soft light from the left suggest that he typically posed his models in his studio, illuminated by a north window, and that he was right-handed. 

Federico Andreotti, The Love Letter

This young woman has received a letter from a suitor. Her hand pose communicates shyness.

Sometimes he painted a young man and woman in a courtship scene.

This working-class card player is weighing his options. 

Federico Andreotti An Afternoon Tea

A few of his paintings are multi-figure scenes, in this case variations on the theme of courtship.

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Federico Andreotti on Wikipedia

Wikipedia Commons images of Federico Andreotti