Silvio Poma - an oil painting depicting a mountain landscape, a mountain pasture and grazing cows

Silvio Poma Mountain Landscape View of Monte Rosa Beginning of the 1900s. Large oil painting, the first canvas depicting a mountain landscape with partially snow-capped peaks, a mountain pasture, and grazing cows. Signed S. Poma in the lower left corner, the work dates from the early 20th century and has its original canvas and has never been restored; this is an advantage because it restores the painting to its original state, though it has a minor flaw in that the canvas is slightly loose, visible through the folds at the top, also seen in published images, and a slight "embossing" of the paint ending in the central part of the painting (to the left of the cows). Furthermore, after cleaning, the original pigment colors would stand out more, and the painting would gain different brightness and depth (to give a banal example, the snow on the mountain peaks would return to white, thus restoring the entire chromatic scale of the image). The frame is original, made of carved and gilded wood, from which we have only removed the velvet covering the passe par tout, which was irreparably worn and has been replaced with ivory-colored varnish.

Silvio Poma (Trescore Balneario, 1840 - Turate, 1932) was an Italian painter considered one of the most outstanding landscape painters of Lombard Verismo at the end of the 19th century. 

This relaxing view of the mountains, Monte Rosa, and the broad valley below the eastern slopes of the massif, taken from the Piedmont side, probably from Macugnaga, comes from a private collection in Milan and is in good condition. 

The canvas has been cleaned and a small tear repaired. The painting is now presented as a photographic image; slight looseness and minimal nicks on the outer edges, masked and protected by the frame, can only be repaired by relining the canvas. 

The Verbano landscape appears repeatedly in Poma’s works. This piece again features a veristic style that characterizes his painting, which has been evident from the artist’s early days, dating back to the early seventies, and remained almost unchanged until the end of the century. The depicted view uses a traditional compositional structure, providing an undefined foreground with a slightly blurred urban agglomeration, animated by some patches of grazing cows, contrasted with the panoramic depiction of the majestic background landscape. 

He volunteered in the Second War of Independence and later pursued a military career, but in 1866, after contracting malaria, he left the army. Upon returning to Milan, he attended the studios of Giovan Battista Lelli and Gerolamo Induno, both soldier-painters, whom he met during the military campaign of 1859. Several historical paintings have been removed from his oeuvre; most of his production consists of landscapes and marine scenes, including Monte Rosa and the Prealps from Lake Maggiore, exhibited in Milan at the national art exhibition in 1906. 

He debuted at the Fine Arts Exhibition in Brera in 1869, but his first official awards came only in the mid-1870s: in 1876, he won the Mylius Award from the Brera Academy of Fine Arts for a historical-themed canvas set in a broad natural and romantic context; in 1877, one of his landscapes was purchased at the National Exhibition in Naples by Vittorio Emanuele II. He was a modest and kind man. In Bergamo, at the Galleria della Permanente, a commemorative exhibition was held in 1946, featuring twenty-four works, some of which are very significant.

Prestigious antique furniture and accessories can be an excellent idea for decorating our interiors. Currently, there is a growing number of enthusiasts for high-quality vintage items that have a defined character and soul. This is a nod to history, creating and designing classic and timeless furniture. There are many different styles in antique furniture, each with its distinctive features.

Many styles characterize antique furniture, but a few are particularly notable. Eclectic furniture refers to the 19th century, dominated by the Biedermeier style. Its early 20th-century variants include neo-Gothic, Gothic, Rococo, Louis-Philippe style, and finally the English Victorian style. Toward the end of the century, these styles evolved into pseudo-classicism, Renaissance, and Baroque styles.

Neoclassical furniture reflects the Louis XVI style, which also strongly references ancient architecture. Interesting and noteworthy are all antique products in the Rococo style and Louis XV. Next is Baroque, whose name derives from the Portuguese *barocco* – which translates to an irregularly developed pearl. These were highly representative pieces of furniture, literally dripping with brilliance and serving a significant role in luxury. Materials were selectively used to further emphasize the grandeur of these items.

Today, we can observe how greatly the Baroque style influenced modern classic furniture, which is designed with a strong resemblance to the historical era. An important style is also Renaissance, which flourished in the 15th and 16th centuries and left a significant mark on furniture-making art. Renaissance style was quite heavy and bulky. Brown stains, moldings, sturdy bases, and reliefs were used. It can certainly be said that these were quite distinctive products, but they also opened up many new possibilities, such as the construction of cabinets or broadly speaking, chest furniture. Here too, there was an interest in mythology and ancient times, so supports and legs often took animal forms.

Lion paws, eagle heads – these are common features in Renaissance style. Currently, many global brands reproduce furniture made in this style, taking inspiration from Italian and French craftsmen. This is a manifestation of admiration and respect for the history of the most beautiful Renaissance antiques. It is important to remember that furniture production was perceived differently in each country, so each style had its unique character. This is especially important when searching for an elegant antique that suits your interior.

The most important aspect of elite antique furniture is originality. And this is ultimately crucial from the buyer’s perspective, as many forgeries circulate on the market. Luxury Products provides a certificate confirming the product’s compliance with its actual description and photos. We have appraisers, art experts, historians, and specialists from around the world at your disposal.