Circa 1890
Oil on canvas
5-1/2 x 5-1/4 in.
Private collection
This painting was owned by my grandfather and has descended in my family. The family story is that Leo Tolstoy visited Capri and the students at the art academy, where Buongiorno studied, were invited to sketch him. Later, Buongiorno painted the oil painting from the sketch.
Several Tolstoy scholars have confirmed to me that Tolstoy visited Europe, including Naples, in 1861, but never left Russia again after that trip. Buongiorno was born in 1865, which debunks the myth that Buongiorno sketched Tolstoy from life.
More likely, Buongiorno worked from a photograph.There were many images of Tolstoy circulating widely in the late 1800s.
As this painting does match what Tolstoy looked like, it demonstrates that Buongiorno was capable of painting an accurate likeness.
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