Gaetano Previati, Shadows

I rarely happen to be completely enraptured by a work of art at first sight, but this happened to me with "The Kiss", an extraordinary masterpiece by Gaetano Previati dated 1889-1892.

At our "first meeting" the painting was erroneously hanging horizontally, perhaps because its custodians had been misled by the then difficult to discern image, hidden beneath decades of dust and layers of varnish.

Despite the paintings condition, I was immediately captivated by the fascinating figures portrayed and their graceful pose, the extraordinary painting technique and the unmistakable light of the great master of Ferrara. Even the back of the painting was incredible; rich in stamps and labels that told of its exhibition history, from a 1902 show in Milan at Alberto Grubicy's gallery to an exhibit in Paris in 1907 where it was displayed under the title "Juliet and Romeo".

I could tell that the painting was covered with years of dirt and had suffered some clumsy cleaning work, but I imagined what it must have looked like when it was created.

I thought to myself: This is a masterpiece, and it must be brought back to Italy without delay. We hope you will agree that we have succeeded with our intent: to give back to our country a milestone of Italian art of the XIX century, while at the same time giving back care and attention to the painting itsel; Through a careful and scrupulous conservation efforts, the work now glows with its original splendour.

Gaetano Previati
(Ferrara, 1852 - Lavagna, 1920)

Penombre o Giulietta e Romeo o Il bacio, (1889-1891)
Oil on canvas, 200 × 96 cm
Signed bottom right: Previati