This exquisite pastel on paper dates from the mid-twentieth century. The wide River Tiber flows under the Ponte Umberto I, past the Castel Sant'Angelo and Vatican City beyond. Signed and dated 1950 twice in the bottom left and right, Henri Farge (1884-1970). Unframed with wear and tear as seen in photos.
Henri Farge (1884-1970) was a French painter and engraver renowned for his aquatint and woodcut techniques. Born on January 1, 1884, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, his full name was Henri Auguste Élysée Farge. He initially studied mathematics at the Sorbonne but was largely self-taught in painting. Throughout his life, Farge lived and worked in various locations in Paris, including rue des Vignes, rue de Lille, avenue de Versailles, and rue des Plantes.
His work is characterized by intricate detail and strong contrasts, which made his engravings distinctive. Henri Farge was recognized at the Concours général, a prestigious academic competition in France. He passed away on December 13, 1970, in Créteil, a suburb of Paris, at the age of 86.
Castel Sant'Angelo, originally known as the Mausoleum of Hadrian, was commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. Constructed between 123 and 139 AD, it was initially a cylindrical building topped with a garden and golden quadriga. The structure was connected to the city by the Pons Aelius, now known as the Ponte Sant'Angelo.
Over the centuries, Castel Sant'Angelo has served various roles, including a fortress, a papal residence, and a prison. In the 14th century, Pope Nicholas III connected the castle to St. Peter's Basilica by the Passetto di Borgo, a covered fortified corridor, providing a secure escape route for popes under threat. The building underwent numerous modifications and fortifications, especially during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, transforming it into the formidable structure seen today.
Castel Sant'Angelo holds a prominent place in the world of opera, particularly in Giacomo Puccini's "Tosca." The opera, set in Rome during the Napoleonic Wars, uses Castel Sant'Angelo as the setting for its final act. In "Tosca," the castle is the location where the painter Mario Cavaradossi is imprisoned and later executed by firing squad. The dramatic finale occurs on the ramparts of Castel Sant'Angelo, where the heroine, Floria Tosca, in a state of despair after realizing that her lover Cavaradossi has been truly executed and not just subjected to a mock execution, leaps to her death from the castles parapets. The inclusion of Castel Sant'Angelo in "Tosca" adds a historical and emotional weight to the narrative, intertwining the real historical significance of the location with the dramatic intensity of Puccini's opera. This setting not only provides a dramatic backdrop but also enriches the story with its historical connotations of power, imprisonment, and escape.
Heavy wear and rustic condition consistent with age and use.
17¾" x 15" overall
45cm x 38cm overall
