Pulcinella and Columbina. A New Year Card for 1923. Designed by Gino Severini for Osbert and Sacheverell Sitwell [Signed]

Osbert & Sacheverell Sitwell. Gino Severini.

Naples. 1922. Folded sheet of laid paper with deckled edge. Image size - 180 x 108mm. Engraving in black ink to left, signed by Severni in margin; manuscript inscription in black ink to right. English. 220 x 280mm. 0.2kg. . Very good; some light creasing, some light marks, predominantly to verso.

An engraving by the Italian artist Gino Severini intended as a New Year card from Osbert and Sacheverell Sitwell. The stylised manuscript text reads 'A Happy New Year 1923 from Osbert and Sacheverell Sitwell from Naples'. On the opposite side of the folded leaf is an image of Pulcinella and Columbina playing stringed instruments , with two further Pulcinella-like figures in the background. Severini had been commissioned in 1921 by the Sitwell brothers' father, Sir George Sitwell, to paint a mural in his Tuscan home, Castello di Montegufoni. 'La Sala delle Maschere' (Room of Masks) was completed in 1922 and featured characters and objects inspired by the Commedia dell'Arte. Osbert and Sacheverell were involved in the mural painting (they feature as disguised characters) and must have commissioned the New Year card from Severini as he came to the end of the project. Pulcinella and music-playing feature in both mural and print. A copy of the engraving is located in the British Museum collection.