Description
Collection of Eleftherios Venizelos Continental School, 18th/19th century
Oil on panel, in giltwood frame, 13.40 x 8.90 cm. Frame: 27.50 x 23 cm.
Inscribed on the reverse: “La Bonne Nouvelle”
This finely executed 19th-century miniature oil on panel depicts an animated interior scene under a grand arched vault, filled with elegantly dressed figures gathered in anticipation and movement. At the center, a luminous female figure descends a short staircase, surrounded by courtiers and onlookers, in what appears to be the announcement or reception of joyful news.
The composition, rendered with lively brushwork and a warm palette of golds, ochres and reds, captures the theatrical atmosphere of a festive gathering—possibly alluding to “La Bonne Nouvelle” (“The Good News”), a popular 19th-century theme evoking either a biblical annunciation or a secular moment of celebration.
The scene’s architectural depth, dynamic crowd and treatment of light reflect the influence of Romantic and Academic painters active in mid-19th century France and Italy.
Presented in a giltwood frame, the work carries a handwritten label on the reverse bearing the title “La Bonne Nouvelle”, and originates from the distinguished collection of Eleftherios Venizelos, one of Greece’s most prominent statesmen.
Condition: Minor surface wear and craquelure consistent with age.
Provenance: Originally from the personal collection of Eleftherios Venizelos, and thence by family inheritance to Lily Venizelos.
According to the family the painting comes from the personal collection of Eleftherios Venizelos (1864–1936), the seven-time Prime Minister of Greece and architect of the modern Greek state. A celebrated statesman and revered historical figure, Venizelos’s legacy lends this piece extraordinary cultural and historical significance. Accompanied with document of provenance.