The Goldfish Bowl, Edward Perugini, oil on canvas. roughly 39 x 31 in. (100 x 79 cm).
Link is to the Bonham’s auction page from 2010. Click on the image on the Bonham’s page for a larger version.
Bonham’s at the time lists it as only “attributed to” Perugini, but all other references to it that I’ve found recently simply say Perugini, so either the attribution has been confirmed, or none of the other mentions are as concerned with correctness as the auction house.
Regardless, it is a striking painting, though damaged along the lower side of the woman’s face and at the botom of the canvas. Not so much, though, as to prevent us from enjoying the painting.
I love the compositoin, with the brighter areas of the woman’s face and the highlights on the sleeve just set off from center, and the bright highlight on the glass of the bowl providing a light counterbalance to the right.
The hair almost fades into the low chroma tapestry behind the model, the dark bands of fabric in her top, and the darkness of her skirt emphasize the bold highlights in the gold colored areas.
Look at how well controlled the muted effect on her shadowed arm seems completely natural in the generally low light of the scene. The orange-red of the goldfish isd balanced by her ruddy cheeks and modesltly red lips.
For more on Perugini, see my post from 2022.