A GIRL WEARING A WHITE VEIL

THE PRESENT WORK CAN BE COMPARED TO STUDY (MY SISTER) PAINTED CIRCA 1878 (MESDAG MUSEUM, THE HAGUE). THE SUBTITLE OF THE PAINTING IS SURPRISING AS MANCINI ONLY HAD TWO YOUNGER BROTHERS. A GIRL IN A WHITE VEIL, SEEN IN PROFILE (47.5 X 37.5 CM., SOLD IN THESE ROOMS 21 MARCH 1997, LOT 125, +58,000) SHOWING THE SAME SITTER, AND BACKGROUND WAS DATED 1876 AND WHICH SUGGESTS THAT THE PRESENT LOT AND THE WORK IN THE MESDAG MUSEUM WERE EXECUTED AROUND THE SAME TIME. A GIRL WEARING A WHITE VEIL WAS PREVIOUSLY IN THE COLLECTION OF JOHN SINGER SARGENT, WHOM MANCINI HAD MET IN ROME AND WHOM HE INTRODUCED SHORTLY AFTERWARDS TO MRS CHARLES (MARY) HUNTER, A SOCIETY HOSTESS AND THE WIFE OF COAL MAGNATE. MRS HUNTER, WHO AMASSED A TREMENDOUS FORTUNE, FREQUENTLY RECEIVED SARGENT'S FRIENDS AT HER HOME. MANCINI SOON BECAME AN ESTABLISHED PORTRAITIST IN ENGLAND AND HAD A STRONG INFLUENCE ON THE WORK OF SARGENT.
A DRAWING OF A GIRL WEARING A WHITE VEIL WAS EXECUTED BY SARGENT (PRIVATE COLLECTION) AND SARGENT ALSO PAINTED A PORTRAIT OF MANCINI.