Boudoir

Reclining Woman
1896, dated in signature
Oil on canvas
9 x 11-1/2 in.
Private collection

I suspect this painting was a private commission, because of the woman’s exposed breast and the presumed symbolism of the book and flower. Also, it is dated in the signature, which seems to be a pattern among Buongiorno’s commissioned paintings (and gifts).

Tambourine Woman
Circa 1900
Oil on canvas
12 x 9 in.
Collection of Janice Carapellucci

This racy item came to me by way of a lovely dealer in California—who also gave me my category title “boudoir images.” Although the model looks Italian to me—and indeed she may be the same woman in a few other paintings I have found—I suspect this painting was Buongiorno’s attempt to capitalize on Orientalism, a 19th-century art movement of painting scenes of so-called “exotic,” “eastern” locations, such as Morocco and Turkey.