Giuseppe Bossi – Symposium and figures studies

Giuseppe Bossi

(Busto Arsizio 1777-Milan 1815)

Scene of an ancient style symposium, with self-portrait in the centre (recto)

Study of head and figures reclining at the banquet (verso)

circa 1810

Pen and pencil on paper, 445 × 580 mm

Rubber-stamped in the centre: “BOSSI”

Provenance: Milan private collection

Depicting an ancient symposium that recalls the famous Platonic dialogue, the artist places his declaiming self-portrait at the centre. Bossi was seen by contemporaries as a philosopher artist. Here he seems to be declaring the poetic of the maieutic method, in speculative and artistic research, which he would adopt in the teaching of his devoted pupils at the Brera Academy.