Circa 1900
Oil on canvas
Whereabouts unknown
Boy Smoking Cigar
Circa 1900
Oil on board
4-7/8 x 3-3/8 in.
Whereabouts unknown
Boy with Attitude Smoking Cigarette
Circa 1900
Oil on canvas
12 x 9-1/8 in.
Private collection
Boy with Walking Stick
Circa 1900
Oil on board
19 x 12 in.
Collection of Janice Carapellucci
Four Boys Playing Cards
Circa 1900
Oil on canvas
18-1/2 x 26-1/2 in.
Collection of Steve and Lorraine Marshall
This painting is for sale. Contact me for details.
News Boy With Blue Vest
Circa 1900
Oil on canvas
9-1/2 x 6-1/4 in.
Private collection
News Boy With Green Coat
Circa 1900
Oil on canvas
Private collection
Do you know any of these boys?
Donatus Buongiorno painted images of his friends, and he may have hired local people to pose for him in New York, Naples or Solofra, Avellino, all places where he had studios.
Do you know any of these people? If so, please contact me. I would love to trace who he knew and how he found his models.
Do you own one of these paintings? For a catalogue raisonne project, I am interested in hearing from anyone who owns a painting by Donatus Buongiorno.
My Aunt left me a print of the Four Boys Playing Cards. She had been bequeathed this by a friend of hers as my aunt had admired it. She wanted us to find out who the painting was by.
Anyway I’ve spent the last couple of years searching the internet off and on. Today I’ve come across the artist and an image of the original. Thanks for putting this up.
Interestingly I’ve just noticed that on the back in pencil it states Rome 1925.
I can send you photographs of the print. If you’d like.
Hi, Alistair, and thanks for writing. I’m not certain Buongiorno’s painting is the “original” of this image. People cheating at cards is a bit of a trope, and who knows who started it. When I poked around online (several years ago), I found similar images, too, including a figurine sculpture in Capodimonte porcelain! YES, please do send me photos of your print, I would LOVE to see it. The “1925 Rome” inscription is intriguing. I know Buongiorno (who was from Naples) was in Rome in 1911 for a conference, but this is the first clue I have received that he may have been there later. There’s an email link to me at the bottom of each page of this website. Look for “contact me privately….” If you click on it, it was go to your email program, and then you can attach photos however you normally do that. I’m eager to hear from you, thanks!
Hi, I have an original but I don’t have much information. It’s the second painting of the boys cheating at poker. In mine they are about to fight. I have a picture but it won’t let me post it. Any information you might have would be great.
Hi, Erin, and thanks for writing. Send the photos to my email address, which is advertised all over this site (with links). Then I will post it (if I am able, the interface for this site has some limitations on both sides), and we can talk. Janice