"Rococo Sky"

c. 1876

An oil on canvas ceiling mural entitled “Rococo Sky” by the Florentine painter Annibale Gatti (Italian, 1828-1909) installed in the Dining Room of Chateau-sur-Mer. The oblong ceiling mural depicts three groups of putti, breaking the composition up into three sections, set amongst a cloud swept background. The group on the left eat fruit off a proffered tray. The center group, which is the largest of the groupings, hover around a floral bouquet, the putto on the right of this grouping wears a coral bead necklace, making her stand out from the rest, and may be a portrait of Miss Edith Wetmore (1870-1966). The group on the right lay recline in the clouds drinking wine and champagne. The painting is set amongst an elaborate framing of carved grape vines and a Vitruvian scroll border by Luigi Frullini (Italian, 1839-1897).

Italian

oil on canvas

228" x 120"

Purchased by The Preservation Society of Newport County, 1969.

PSNC.10539