Antiques Decorative (Sussex) has dated this 19th Century Oil Painting to the 1880s.
This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.
Italian Peasant Women Listening to a Travelling Musician, circa 1878**
An evocative 19th-century oil painting attributed to the celebrated Spanish genre painter José Jiménez Aranda (1837–1903), depicting four young Italian women in traditional regional costume gathered around a travelling musician in the Italian countryside.
The composition captures an intimate moment of rural life.
The women's richly coloured costumes, embroidered bodices and white blouses introduce a lively contrast against the warm stonework, mature foliage and distant blue mountains. Their individual expressions and informal poses lend the painting a compelling narrative quality.
Artist and Historical Context**
Born in Seville in 1837, José Jiménez Aranda became one of the distinguished Spanish genre painters of the 19th century. His artistic career included an important period in Rome, where he developed his interest in Italian everyday life, picturesque settings and carefully observed figure compositions.
The present painting belongs stylistically and thematically to this artistic environment.
Its subject bears interesting comparisons with Jiménez Aranda's documented Roman genre paintings, particularly *Figaro's Shop*, dated Rome 1875, which similarly incorporates musical entertainment within an informal gathering of figures.
The painting's apparent date of 1878 places it within this important period of Spanish artistic activity in Italy.
Attribution and Signature**
The painting bears a signature and apparent date of 1878.
The attribution to José Jiménez Aranda is based upon the signature, period, subject matter and stylistic comparisons with his documented Italian genre paintings.
The artist's known signatures include abbreviated forms of Jiménez Aranda, occasionally accompanied by elaborate flourishes, providing a useful basis for comparison with the present work.
Medium and Presentation**
Executed in oil on Windsor & Newton artist's board, measuring approximately 40 × 50 cm, the painting has the character of an intimate, carefully observed genre composition.
Presented in a traditional gilt frame, the work retains the warmth, colour and atmosphere associated with late 19th-century European painting.
An appealing acquisition for collectors of Spanish art, Italian genre painting and 19th-century European figurative works.
Details**
Artist: Attributed to José Jiménez Aranda (1837–1903)
School: Spanish
Date: Circa 1878
Subject: Italian peasant women listening to a travelling musician
Medium: Oil on artist's board
Painting dimensions: 40 × 50 cm
Period: Late 19th century
Frame: Gilt frame
Attribution🎬 Watch the full video and discover the story behind this fascinating painting:
https://youtu.be/wjQGcQc_ZX8: Based on signature and stylistic comparison; not independently authenticated.
Antiques Decorative (Sussex) has dated this 19th Century Oil Painting to the 1880s.
This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.
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Attributed to José Jiménez Aranda (1837–1903) – Spanish Oil Painting of Italian Peasant Women and a Travelling Musician, Rome, C.1878
