Emilio DELLA SUDDA

Of a similar pastel portrait by Emilio Della Sudda exhibited in Paris, the critic Régis Delbeuf noted: 'The portrait of a woman…is simply delicious. In a pose full of abandonment and lassitude, a young girl seems to rest, her body leaning forward, hesitating in front of the open piano, which invites her. And it is an exquisite arrangement of softened tones, from the golden reflections of the blonde hair beneath which shine, very clear, large blue eyes, to the whiteness of the gauze dress stitched here and there with a pink garland and a floating green scarf. It is a work of perfect harmony and of a confidence of execution that is truly rare.' Delbeuf also noted that, 'A few years ago, about another portrait of a woman exhibited in Constantinople, we had noted the artist's mastery of pastel. And we urged him to specialize in this genre, which suits the delicacy of his art so well. We are pleased to see that Parisians share our way of seeing. Mr. Della Sudda is regarded as one of the best pastellists of our time. We had expressed the hope that the jury would reward his special talent with the prize that he deserves. This opinion had been formulated by almost every critic. M. Auguste Marguillier in particular, who has recently dedicated an extensive special study on Art by foreign artists in the Grand Palais in the Revue Encyclopédique, placed M. Della Sudda at the forefront of oriental artists worthy of note. The jury thought differently. Medals were undiscerningly given to mediocre works and this worthy artist was disdained. Never mind the jury. The artist has enough talent to do without their distinctions, he distinguishes himself enough by his talent.' 

This fine pastel has recently been identified, by the Turkish music historian, composer and conductor Emre Araci, as a portrait of the artist’s older brother, the Italo-Levantine pianist Francesco, known as Faik Bey Della Sudda (1859-1940). A pupil of Franz Liszt, Faik Bey Della Sudda - also known as ‘Der Pascha’ - was the son and grandson of the pharmacist to the Sultan, and is known to have given recitals in London. Another portrait of Francesco (Faik Bey) Della Sudda, by the Danish artist Arild Rosencrantz, was painted around 1900 in London.  

Only a handful of other large pastels by Emilio Della Sudda have appeared on the art market, while a striking portrait of a young man wearing a fez and smoking a cigarette is in a private collection in Texas.