The painting represents the duel of Harlequin against one of his enemy in the Commedia dell’Arte-presumably Leandro-sets in Saint Mark’s square viewing the basilica of Saint Mary of Health, even if with a quite imaginative perspective. It’s signed and dated on the right bottom corner RICCARDO MAGNI 1932.

Riccardo Magni was a Florentine artist between Symbolism and Futurism. Coming from an artistic family-his father Giuseppe was also a painter-he kept a very quiet and discreet life style and here is a lack of information regarding his biography. He took prt in the most important Tuscan exhibition and from the Thirties he moved to Paris and Bruxelles, where he also started a career as a set and costume designer for the theatre. He then moved to the United States where he died.