The Grand Canal, Venice

Notes

A copy of an Art Group art research and technical analysis accompanies this lot.

Born in Naples on 6 March 1861, Brancaccio initially studied mathematics before abandoning these studies at around the age of twenty-two to devote himself to painting. He trained under Eduardo Dalbono, and later went on to become one of the most prolific Neapolitan painters of his generation.

Brancaccio worked primarily in an Impressionist-influenced style, painting en plein air and commonly depicting the streets, harbours, and coastline of Naples and its surroundings. His subjects extended beyond Naples to include views of Venice, Paris, and other cities encountered in his travels. Brancaccio exhibited extensively throughout his career, showing regularly at the Naples Promotrice from the early 1880s onward, as well as at international exhibitions in Rome, Milan, Munich, Berlin, London, Paris, St. Petersburg, Hamburg, and Buenos Aires.

Brancaccio's artworks attracted notable patronage during his lifetime: King Umberto I purchased his Sulla via di Amalfi at the 1897 Florence Exhibition of Art and Flowers, and the Russian Empress acquired his Ore tristi at the St. Petersburg exhibition the following year. He was awarded a gold medal at the 1893 Rome Exhibition for his painting Basso Porto.