Rug Merchant watercolor by Dario Santini (Italian, 1874-1924)

Dario Santini, an Italian painter born in Ancona in 1874, largely focused on subjects of the west in his practice, making an orientalist painting by him rather rare. Skillfully rendered in watercolor, a young man reclines in a stately home, fanning himself with a peacock feather fan, donning a turkish vest, a coin strung head piece and bright red slippers, all hallmarks of orientalist depictions of the Ottoman Empire. A Rug merchant dilligently showcases one of his rugs to the young man, who smiles politely in return. Santini, skilled in rendering architecture, depicts spelndid moulded wall designs on the horse shoe arch in the background. A gorgeous composition overall.