Francesco Jiaconino Spicuzza (Wisconsin, 1883-1962) oil on board bust-length self-portrait painting depicting the artist as a elderly man with receding, wavy light gray hair with encroaching greys, wearing round metal glasses and a white shirt with a black bow tie. Signed and dated "Spicuzza 1954" lower left. Dated and titled en verso with pencil inscription indicating that the artist was 74 years old when the portrait was executed. Housed in a painted wooden frame with glass, mat, and giltwood fillet. Board - 23 3/8" H x 19 1/4" W. Framed - 27 3/8" H x 23 1/4" W. Provenance: Estate of Carl Klein, Brentwood, TN. Biography: Francesco Spicuzza was born in Termini, Sicily and came to Milwaukee with his parents when he was a child. Spicuzza's early art training began when a Milwaukee businessman arranged for Spicuzza to have art classes with Wisconsin artist Robert Schade. While in his mid-twenties, Spicuzza studied with Alexander Mueller at the Milwaukee Art Students' League and had a one-person exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Society in 1915. He then left Milwaukee briefly to study Impressionism for a summer under John Carlson in Woodstock, New York. Spicuzza taught art at the Milwaukee Art Institute and during the 1940s in his studio. He was also a member of the Wisconsin Painters & Sculptors and his work was featured in many one-person and selected group exhibitions, including the Chicago Art Institute in 1912. (source: https://wisconsinart.org/archives/artist/francesco-jiaconino-spicuzza/profile-161.aspx).

Overall good condition with abrasions and areas of loss to edges of board, most notably in a 6 1/4" area of scuffs at right side of board and an area lower center. Slight yellowing to varnish. Painting has been removed from frame; frame retained.