Lesti, Lesti al Timone - Hand Watercolored Lithograph by A. Masutti - 1848 1848

Lesti, Lesti al Timone is a beautiful hand-watercolored lithograph, realized in1848 by the Italian satirical artist Antonio Masutti (Aviano 1813-Tourin 1895). Title is printed in capital letters on lower margin at the center ''Lesti, Lesti al timone che il primo timoniere sta alle gabbie''. (Quick, quick let's go to the steer because the first helmsman is in the cage). This satirical original print represents metaphorically the Italy of the ''Risorgimento'' period as a boot sailing the trouble sea under the flag of ''Liberty, Religion and Fraternity''. The boot reports at the center a date in Roman numerals: ''MDCCCXVIII'', therefore still wrong as the L is missing. For different reasons, and according to the British Museum, the dating of this original print has to be 1848. This old master' print derives from an original drawing from a collection of 106 drawings, related to the Roman satirical journal ''Il Don Pirlone'', for which Masutti worked, now preserved at the British Museum. In very good conditions, with a usual yellowing of the paper and some minor stains on the higher right corner and lower right corner. Antonio Masutti (Aviano, 1813 - Turin, 1895) Antonio Masutti was an Italian painter, draftsman, engraver, lithographer, illustrator and caricaturist. From a poor and numerous family, Masutti manages to redeem himself: his talent is discovered almost by chance and confirmed by several prizes that he wins between 1830 and 1834. From 1839 he works at the Kier printing plant. He made the illustrations for the Strenna Triestina for the editions of 1839 and 1840. He moved to Rome, first to continue his academic career, then changed his mind, entering the group of engravers and illustrators that revolved around the figure of the intellectual and patriot Michelangelo Pinto. For the latter he made the drawings for the satirical newspaper Il Don Pirlone, of which 106 are now preserved at the British Museum in London. He knows the Piedmontese group: the engraver Enrico Parmiani who puts him in contact with Agostino Lauro. Following Pinto he moved to Turin in 1849. He continues to work for Pinto at Il Don Pirlone in Rome. Starting from 1851 he illustrated the Pantheon of the martyrs of Italian freedom. For the Turin bourgeoisie, he began to create miniature portraits for which he received good feedback. In 1856 he illustrated the New Mysteries of Contemporary Rome, one of his most important illustrative works. He established a close relationship with Cavour, of whom he made many portraits. Between 1860 and 1863 he illustrated the History of Italy by Giuseppe La Farina and the five volumes of Pietro Corelli La Stella d'Italia or Nove Secoli di Casa Savoia. He came into contact with the major Risorgimento writers for whom he worked as an illustrator: in addition to Prati, also Francesco Domenico Guerrazzi and Antonio Ranieri. His portrait of King Vittorio Emanuele II, engraved by Agostino Lauro, gets a national resonance. Vittorio Emanuele II will give him the title of ''knight''. This artwork is shipped from Italy. Under existing legislation, any artwork in Italy created over 70 years ago by an artist who has died requires a licence for export regardless of the work’s market price. The shipping may require additional handling days to require the licence according to the final destination of the artwork.