Vittorio Corcos began his studies in Florence and, later, in
Naples with Domenico Morbelli's who considered him one of his
best students. In 1880 he moved to Paris and the following year
he submitted A la brasserie to the Salon. In Paris he found
a climate of patronage receptive to his images of female beauty
and appreciative of his technical proficiency in depicting
exquisite finish, luxurious fabrics and marbles. He remained in
Paris through 1886, working almost exclusively for the dealer
Adolphe Goupil whose gallery also handled the works of Giovanni
Boldini. Goupil's support would have afforded Corcos
international exposure amongst the growing group of wealthy
American collectors who visited Paris on their "grand tours" of
the continent as well as with the growing class of French
bourgeoisie eager to collect art. Upon his return to Florence,
he concentrated primarily on portraiture.
In the Sunny South should be seen as Corcos's tour de force.
A superb draftsman, Corcos tenderly renders the women's myriad
expressions and meticulously details the fabrics of their
dresses. The pyramidal structure and frieze-like format of the
composition are enlivened by the use of vibrant color and
intertwining gesture. A painting that was immediately recognized
for its importance in the artist's oeuvre, In the Sunny South
was reproduced in engraving.