Eliseu Visconti studied at the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts in Rio de Janeiro and like many artists of his generation, he moved to Paris to improve his painting at the renowned Académie Julian. In Europe, he exhibited in several salons, such as the Paris and Munich Salons of 1896, where he presented The Convalescent. In the painting, we see a dying figure being cared for by a man, who seems to be kissing her affectionately. The scene gives the impression of movement, both in the way the man is reclining and the presence of the approaching servant. The young woman expressively holds the arms of the chair and her body weight melts languidly. The image composed by the artist follows a romantic view of female fragility. Similar to Visconti, other artists from the same period used this theme where convalescents are often represented wearing white clothes, leaning against pillows. In Visconti’s painting, the reddish voile curtains delicately filter the light from outside, producing rosy tones that are reflected onto the couple’s faces. The painter gives a particular shine to the white in the dress and apron, alternating the pink shades with subtle bluish brushstrokes. The transparences and shadows are treated with soft lightness, and Visconti’s precise use of colors and luminosity seem to be influenced by impressionist paintings, which he came into contact with whilst in France.
— MASP Curatorial Team, 2020
