Signature upper left. 1952-1953. Exhibition: L'impossibile è Noto, 100 Capolavori dei Maestri del Novecento, Convitto delle Arti Noto Museum, Noto, from 11 April to 10 November 2019 by Giancarlo Carpi and Giuseppe Stagnitta. Provenance: Vincenzo Mazzarella Collection; Private Collection, Rome. Leonor Fini Archive, Paris, authenticity certificate. Since Leonor Fini is a fervent and recognized animal rights activist, it is not conceivable to trace the subject of the painting back to a bullfighter who actually existed. It is more likely that the portrait costume comes from a theatrical setting or has an allegorical function.

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