Cesare Bartolena Artwork valuations, appraisals and auction estimates

Cesare Bartolena was born in Livorno on 27 May 1830 into a modest family. At just nine years old he began to approach art thanks to his painter uncle Giovanni Bartolena, and then trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence with the painter Enrico Pollastrini.
In 1848, he left as a volunteer for the First War of Independence. Read the full biography

Cesare Bartolena was born in Livorno on 27 May 1830 into a modest family. At just nine years old he began to approach art thanks to his painter uncle Giovanni Bartolena, and then trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence with the painter Enrico Pollastrini.
In 1848, he left as a volunteer for the First War of Independence. Upon his return, he began to paint mainly portraits of Livorno citizens, including the alleged Portrait of Tito Olinto Taddei.
After having participated, in 1859, in the prestigious Ricasoli Competition, he dedicated himself to painting military scenes, such as "Maneuvers" and "Livorno volunteers leave for the liberating war of Sicily" (1860), which decreed his success, and which is was exhibited the same year in Milan. His highly academic style is based on careful and precise drawing, characterized by minute brushstrokes that focus on details.
From 21 May 1876 he became a member of the Commission for the conservation of monuments and art objects and antiquities for the Province of Livorno, and from 10 January 1877 of the Commission to evaluate the objects of fine art donated to the Civic Art Gallery.