Framed by Galleria d’Arte Nembrini Bergamo.
This expressive charcoal drawing from around 1930 shows young Antonio — the brother of the artist, Emilio Negroni. What strikes immediately is his gaze: slightly cross-eyed, as if torn between two thoughts. That subtle imperfection doesn’t weaken him — it disarms. He doesn’t look away. And neither does the artist.
The style is strikingly modern: clean lines, a sense of form and composition that recalls the Art Deco period. No embellishment, no sentimentality — just intense focus. Emilio doesn’t draw a type or an ideal — he draws someone close. Someone he knew. Someone who mattered.
On the back of the drawing, a handwritten note reads:
“Bozzetto carboncino con volto di ragazzo (probabilmente il fratello Antonio)” – Emilio Negroni, 1930 ca.
And decades later, beneath it:
“Voor Monika ‘La Moretta’, 10-09-99, with love from Renata Gualtieri”
This later inscription isn’t a dedication — it’s a gift. No blood relation, no transaction. Perhaps a friendship. Perhaps admiration. What’s certain: this piece wasn’t forgotten. It was passed on.
Its condition tells its own story. The paper is creased and folded — but not neglected. You can feel that it was handled, preserved, maybe once put aside by the artist himself, but never discarded. At the top, two feet are visible — suggesting this study was once part of a larger composition. What remains is its core.
Technical details:
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Charcoal on sturdy paper
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Framed dimensions: 32 x 40 cm
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Frame: Minimalist oak, elegant and fitting
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Provenance: With label from Galleria d’Arte Nembrini (Albino, Italy)
The Galleria d’Arte Nembrini in Albino, Italy:
This gallery is part of Colorificio Nembrini, a family-run business active since 1966 and managed by Enea and Paride Nembrini. The company began as a small paint shop and has since grown into a multifaceted enterprise focused on art supplies, custom framing, and a permanent art gallery.
The gallery is located on the ground floor of the store and is open to the public free of charge every day. It offers a wide range of artworks, including paintings, frescoes, old and modern prints, etchings, and reproductions of masterpieces. The collection is curated to enrich both private and public spaces.
Galleria d’Arte Nembrini is located at Via Alessandro Volta 1 in Albino, in the province of Bergamo. It is a respected destination for art lovers and collectors seeking unique and high-quality works.
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