"Nun Admiring Lovebirds" (1875) Oil on canvas, 17" x 23.75" unframed, 24" x 30.75" framed
This Florentine master artist is considered an Academic Artist. Academic Art is painting and sculpture produced under the influence of the Academies in Europe and especially France, where many artists received their formal training. It is characterized by its highly polished style, its use of mythological or historical subject matter, and its moralistic tone. Castagnola's paintings are allegorical, depicting the subject of love and romance. Nuns are also a recurrent theme in his pieces. This piece is an exquisit example of his masterfully executed compositions. His artistic technique is flawless and the finest example of Academic Art. He is a well listed artist and his pieces have become extremely difficult to come by and increasingly valuable. The Phoenix Art Museum has on exhibit his painting "Fra Fillipo Lippi and Lucrezia Buti."