Portrait of Domenico Galati of Riella

A poet, literature scholar, journalist and playwright in Palermo, Domenica Galati di Riella was portrayed at his departure to Japan. The work has been masterfully executed and, as revealed by its recent cleaning, it displays cold colours, brisk and thick brushwork, and a careful use of light, which is evident in the nuances of the face, reflections of hair, moustache, and eyebrows thus enhancing its introspective rendering. The attribution of the painting to Federico Zandomeneghi has stirred a lively debate among scholars.