The following description has been prepared entirely by the current owner, Roberts S. Fastov, Esq., and, at the collector’s request, has not been edited by Sloans & Kenyon

Note 1) Novelli was born in Italy, but came to New York c. 1900. Although Novelli worked in both oil and gouache and painted cityscapes and views, he was most noted during his lifetime for his floral studies and still lifes. It appears that Novelli studied with the artist, Dewitt Clinton Peters (1865-1948). He was employed as an illustrator for Funk and Wagnalls Co., New York City. Novelli exhibited with and became a member of the Salons of America and the Society of Independent Artists. See Askart.com and Artprice.com. In their Art & Artist files, the Smithsonian American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery Library maintains on Rodolfo Novelli, b. 1879, a Folder under record ID:SILAF_51177, which is described as containing folder(s), which may include exhibition announcements, newspaper and/or magazine clippings, press releases, brochures, reviews, invitations, illustrations, resumes, artist's statements, exhibition catalogs.

Note 2) Although Novelli oil paintings that have been sold at auction are relatively few, and none of them was a still life, the following auction records regarding sales warrant the conclusion that the presale estimate of $700-$900 is reasonable and justifiable, especially as during his lifetime, Novelli was most noted for his still life paintings and, with the exception of Novelli's highest sales price, $1,507 on 11/2/1999, for a painting, which was entitled "The Dandy" and was 23.50 in. x 18.50 in., which is close to the size of this Novelli still life, all of the 3 other auction record paintings were all considerably smaller than this Novelli auction still life.

Title/Subject: Washington Square Park Signed. Oil on canvas. 8.20 in. x 11 in. sold for $558 on 07/11/2002 at Skinner, Inc., Marlborough, MA

Photographic Image Not Available.

Title/Subject: New York City Scene Signed. Oil on artist's board. 9 in. x 12 in. sold for $728 on 05/01/2000 at Mystic Fine Arts, Ltd, New London, CT

Title/Subject: The Dandy Signed. Oil on canvas. 23.50 in. x 18.50 in. sold for $1,507 on 11/12/1999 at Skinner, Inc., Marlborough, MA

Photo Image Not Available.

Title/Subject: The Bronx Signed. Oil on canvas. 12 in. x 14 in. sold for $1,000 on 05/17/1998 at Treadway/Toomey, Oak Park, IL