Paintings Original/Repro: Original Style: -- Medium: Oil Date of Creation: Pre-1900 Subject: Figures, Portraits Peppiniello ANTIQUE ART PAINTING SMALL 5 BY 7 ITALY. LETTER FROM ART PERSON FROM OTHER COUNTRY. THIS PAINTING IS DONE ON TWO BOARDS. WELL OVER 100 YEARS OLD. BUT HAS NO DATE. NOT CANVAS. PAINTED ON WOOD. HE STATES: Well, as you already found out, Peppiniello is the son of Felice Sciosciammocca, the leading character of Misery and Nobility (Miseria e Nobiltà) by Eduardo Scarpetta. Eduardo, was an actor, a theatre owner, a translator and playwright. The mentioned play is his most famous one, he bought a house out of the earnings of that comedy. He had a number of sons, most of them actors. The most famous was Eduardo de Filippo, who along with Peppino and Titina, created one of the most famous theatre company in the italian Teatre. All three started they career performing that role. (the first name changes as he did not recognized the three) Peppiniello, is a diminuitive of Peppino, who is a diminuitive of Giuseppe, the most common name in Italy, as it's the name of Christ's father. The pinting, as far as I can see, seems from the neapoletanian school, of the late XIX century, which is exactly the time when the play was written and performed. The aspect of the boy matches with the character. A 9 years old boy, who has seen better times. In the play, Peppiniello lives with his father (Felice), who's now with Luisella, a bad tempered woman. They all live in one basso (a house at the level of the street), with another family. They starve. The only resource is a noble person who sometimes gives Peppiniello some cash for small services, like delivering letters. On the first act Peppiniello delivers the letter but it's all greasy as he put it in the pocket along with some pizza. The man refues to give money, and Luisella sends Peppiniello away from home. He goes to work to a relative, in a rich house, as a servant. There he has to pretend to be the son of his relative: Vicienzo m'è pate a mme - is his funny line (Vincent is my father). There he will meet his mother, and Felice who has come disguised as a rich man. At the end he will rejoin his family. The story of the play is more complex, this are the envents concerning Peppiniello. As far as the writing on the back of your painting, it could be that somone, who has seen the famous comedy, has decided to name his painting after the character. If it was the painter, why not sign it? Anyway, this doesn't change the value of your painting. The medallion that hangs from his neck has no relation with the play. Paolo E. WINNER PAYS SHIPPING. THANKS FOR LOOKING! ART EXPERT FROM NETHERLANDS STATED THIS PAINTING WAS WORTH MUCH MORE THAN THIS. HAS NO ARTIST NAME.