Evening in Italy—the Deserted Villa

Step into the hushed tranquility of Samuel Gottscho's "Evening in Italy—the Deserted Villa." While Gottscho is widely celebrated for his iconic architectural photography, particularly his striking images of New York City landmarks like the RCA Building and the Trylon and Perisphere at the World's Fair, this watercolor reveals a different facet of his artistic sensibility. Before becoming a full-time commercial photographer at age 50, Gottscho spent decades photographing houses, gardens, and landscapes part-time, fueled by a deep appreciation for nature and rural life. This painting, with its delicate washes and subtle use of shell gold, showcases his early passion for capturing atmospheric scenes. It evokes a sense of romantic melancholy, transporting us to a forgotten corner of Italy where evening light bathes a once-grand villa in a soft glow. The meticulous detail in the medium, watercolor with traces of shell gold over graphite, hints at the precision he would later bring to his photographic work, even as the subject matter speaks to a more personal, contemplative side of the artist.