The Marquis del Grillo

Antonio Mancini was an Italian painter known for his extraordinary bravura technique, who moved from humble Neapolitan genre subjects to international society portraiture. The Marquis del Grillo at the National Gallery London likely depicts a figure of Roman nobility, painted with the virtuoso handling of paint that made Mancini celebrated in international circles. His technique — thick impasto applied with extraordinary confidence — created surfaces of unusual visual interest that attracted both praise for its brilliance and criticism for its occasional disorder. The National Gallery's acquisition reflects the long British appreciation for his distinctive manner.

Mancini's technique is extraordinary — thick impasto applied with bravura confidence, the paint surface itself a primary source of visual interest. The portrait subject emerges from the paint's physical mass with an immediacy that is both impressive and slightly overwhelming. His palette is rich and warm in the Italian manner. The handling is among the most technically spectacular portraiture of the period.