Raffaele Pontremoli (1832–1906) - Quattro soldati in uniforme

Raffaele Pontremoli (Chieri, 17 September 1832 – Milan, 17 May 1906)

Drawing depicting two pairs of soldiers in uniform; in the pair on the left, a soldier is leaning on a second soldier who is holding binoculars; in the couple on the right, a soldier is leaning on a second, barely visible soldier

Charcoal drawing on paper

Third quarter of the 19th century (1850-1875)

Signed lower center:
177 R. Pontremoli

With frame, passepartout and glass

Sheet dimensions: 36. 5x33. 5 cm

Dimensions with frame: 48. 4x45. 6 cm

The drawing is in excellent condition: there are some slight creases on the sheet and on the browning; there are two cuts of 5 millimeters and 1. 8 cm on the lower edge with no lack of paper; there is a very slight 9 mm long hollow in the paper at the back of the soldier's head with the binoculars; the background of the drawing being darker than the color of the sheet is not an accidental stain, but rather an effect created by the artist to highlight the drawn part; the frame has some flaws on the lower horizontal slat (see photos)

Raffaele Pontremoli (Chieri, 17 September 1832 – Milan, 17 May 1906) was an Italian painter, teacher, engraver, soldier and patriot, he was the official portraitist of King Vittorio Emanuele II of Savoy.

Together with Gerolamo Induno and Giovanni Fattori he is one of the main exponents of the "soldier painters", as well as one of the greatest exponents of Italian Risorgimento painting. From 1882 to 1906 he was inspector general of the Pinacoteca di Brera.

Raffaele Pontremoli was born in Chieri to Eliseo Graziado Pontremoli, Grand Rabbi of Nice and to Bella Olivetti, exponent of an important banking family, nephew of Laudadio Formiggini. He is the brother of the well-known Rabbi Ezra Pontremoli and cousin of Camillo Olivetti, founder of the illustrious Italian company Olivetti.

Pontremoli studied at the Academy of Arts in Nice, a city in which his father was the head of the local community starting from 1833. He later moved to Turin to study at the Albertina Academy with Carlo Arienti. In 1852, at the Albertina, one of Pontremoli's works won the prize established by the Academia. He subsequently traveled to Paris, where he studied with Horace Vernet, and in 1859 with the second War of Independence, he returned to Italy and worked as a correspondent for the magazine Illustration of Paris, thus following the Piedmontese troops in the Marche and Neapolitan areas. From this experience he drew inspiration for the detailed description of military episodes such as: The battle of San Martino, The battle of Custoza, Asti, Pinacoteca Civica; The day of Garigliano, exhibited at the Turin Promotrice of 1862, Turin, Risorgimento Museum.

He also witnessed the battles of Palestro and San Martino, making some drawings. One of these was purchased by Emperor Napoleon III and presented to King Vittorio Emanuele II. Among his other works are: a large canvas depicting The Taking of Mola di Gaeta (preserved at the Officer's Club of 5th Artillery) ; The passage of the Gorigliano; and a large canvas of Prince Carignano at the Capuchin batteries, during the siege of Gaeta (1860) . In 1866 he followed the armies again and illustrated two events: Prince Umberto in Villafranca in the middle of the square of the 49th infantry and Prince Amedeo wounded in the Cavalchina attack near Custoza, now kept in Palazzo Pitti in Florence. In 1869 he was appointed vice-inspector of the Royal Art Gallery of Turin and in 1876 inspector, before being appointed President. He subsequently moved to Milan where he became professor and inspector general of the Pinacoteca di Brera, he held this position until his death in 1906.

Among the portraits painted during his career is that of Count Luigi Cibrario, Grand Master of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, of which Pontremoli was also an officer. For his canvas Umberto e il Quadrato of 1866, exhibited in Turin in 1880, he was awarded the title of Knight, officer and Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy. In 1891 he painted frescoes for the Tower of San Martino, which serves as a monument dedicated to those who fought in the Battle of Solferino.

Works
Pontremoli's works are hundreds of watercolours, oils on canvas, engravings and frescoes including:
Macbeth, 1840, British Museum, London;
Battle of Palestro, 1859, Correr Museum, Venice;
Prince Umberto in Villafranca in the middle of the square of the 49th infantry, 1867, Gallery of Modern Art Palazzo Pitti, Florence;
Prince Amedeo wounded in the attack on the Cavalchina near Custoza, 1866, Gallery of Modern Art Palazzo Pitti, Florence;
Battle of Palestro, 1859, Risorgimento Museum, Palazzo Moriggia, Milan;
Vittorio Emanuele II at Garigliano, 1850/1875, Royal Castle of Racconigi
Battle of San Martino, 1897, Risorgimento Museum, Asti;
Passage of the Ticino, 1897, Risorgimento Museum, Asti;
The battle of Custoza, 19th century, Museo del Risorgimento, Asti;
Manfredo Fanti in Mola di Gaeta, 19th century, Risorgimento Museum, Modena;
The square of Villafranca-The battle of Custoza, 19th century, Monumental tower of San Martino della Battaglia, Desenzano del Garda.