Mattia Jona, Master Drawings and Prints, Japanese Prints - Piazzetta Guastalla 5, 20122 Milan, Italy, tel (+39) 02 8053315

FAUSTO ZONARO (Masi 1854 - San Remo 1929) TWO STUDIES OF A CRYING BABY
Black chalk, signed 'F. Zonaro'. On the verso two other sketches of a baby. Authenticated in pen on the verso by Fausto Zonaro junior: ' Milano 18 - 3 - 72 / Dichiaro che i disegni che sono in questo foglio / sono opera autentica di mio padre Prof. Comm. Fausto Zonaro / (eseguiti circa nel 1905 a Costantinopoli) / Fausto Zonaro figlio'. 195 x 267 mm.

Zonaro studied at the Verona Academy of Fine Arts, and after his military service went on to study at the Rome Academy of Art. The artist displayed his paintings in Italy in the late 1800s and in 1888 a new exhibition of his work was held in Paris. In 1891 Zonaro and his wife moved from Venice to Istanbul, settling down in Taksim. His most interesting works emerged during this period, with the paintings he made in central neighbourhoods of the city. Zonaro's successes culminated in 1896 when he was appointed chief artist to the Ottoman court by Sultan Abdülhamid II. As court painter, Zonaro donned traditional Turkish dress and enjoyed many privileges. During his tenure, which lasted just over a decade, he created numerous portraits for the Imperial family and many historical paintings and decorations for their various palaces. When, in 1908, the Sultan was unseated and the Second Constitutional Monarchy was declared, Zonaro reluctantly fled Istanbul with his family and returned to Italy around 1910.