The Reader (Clara)

This painting remained unknown for many years: Faruffini never exhibited it during his lifetime, nor did he mention it in his correspondence, as if this work exclusively belonged to his private sphere. The date of its creation is also uncertain, due to the lack of a clarifying bibliography; however, due to the recurrence of certain female subjects in the artist's works, it can be placed somewhere around 1865. This is the date that appears on an etching entitled "Clara," which, despite some slight variations, bears an extraordinary resemblance to the painting.

The woman portrayed within is inspired by a literary character named Clara from the novel "Fosca" by Iginio Ugo Tarchetti (1869). The image has a modern appearance, thanks to the close-up view, almost photographic style, and the open-minded yet refined choice of subject. Clara is pictured from behind, reading a book seated on a red couch, in front of a table full of scattered volumes. Between her fingers, she holds a lit cigarette. The pictorial style alternates between Romantic influences, such as the bohemian setting of the living room, and new influences from Milanese scapigliatura. The delicate hint of her complexion, a retained feature from the Romantic tradition, is transformed through quick, confident uses of color in this still-life depiction, with the books resting on the desk and the pansy in the glass of water.