“White Swan” After Ira Monte (b.1918) , 32” x 48” , Vintage Heirloom Artwork

“White Swan” After Ira Monte (b.1918)  | 32” x 48” | Vintage Heirloom Artwork

Step into a lakeside fairytale with this extraordinary vintage Italian wildlife painting, An homage to Spanish artist,  Ira Monte. At an impressive 32” x 48”, this sweeping composition captures a white swan in a moment of luminous descent—wings stretched wide, water cresting, reeds swaying—while two beautifully rendered waterfowl anchor the scene with movement and color.

Paintings in Monte’s circle are prized for their atmospheric storytelling, and this example is especially rich in naturalistic detail. The seated duck resembles a Long-Tailed Duck, known for its crisp white head and deep chestnut body tones, while the standing bird carries the warm russet coloring and upright posture associated with the Ruddy Shelduck. Italian studio painters of this era frequently romanticized real species, enhancing their plumage and poise to create compositions that feel both familiar and enchantingly mythic.

These thoughtfully interpreted birds—paired with the regal swan—give the painting both contrast and narrative depth, making it a standout example of the wildlife art genre.

Marked “Made in Italy” on the stretcher, this work reflects the mid-century tradition of Italian studio painters who created hand-painted oils for export to elegant American and European homes. Today, artworks After Ira Monte are highly sought after for their scale, richness, and unmistakable Old-World charm.

✨ Features

• Unsigned. Artist: After Ira Monte (b.1918)
• Title: White Swan
• Origin: Italy, stretcher marked Made in Italy
• Dimensions: 32” x 48”
• Medium: Oil on canvas with a varnish finish
• Wildlife Depicted: Mute Swan, Long-Tailed Duck, stylized Ruddy Shelduck
• Frame: Distressed giltwood with soft vintage patina
• Style: Wildlife, Old World, Traditional, Italian School, Grandmillennial
• Perfect for libraries, dining rooms, bedrooms, cottage interiors, English country homes, and maximalist spaces

✨ Why This Painting Is Significant

Works in the Monte style are admired for their romantic naturalism, expressive color, and sweeping compositions inspired by late-19th-century European wildlife painting. This example stands out for its:

• Monumental size
• Rare multi-species composition
• Exceptional movement and luminosity
• Beautiful contrast between the swan and jewel-toned ducks
• Warm, time-earned patina
• Original Italian export markings

This is a heritage-quality artwork—one that instantly elevates a space and offers the kind of layered beauty collectors cherish.

Pieces like this are why I love Sourcing the South and the great state of Texas- especially Round Top- for heirloom estate decor…shopping estate sales, online auctions, charity thrift stores, and antique malls to carefully curate a collection of fantastic vintage and antique finds that have and will stand the test of time.

$1297 INCLUDES INSURED SHIPPING in the continental US.Also available for pick up at our Liberty Hill showroom just north of Austin, TX.

🚚Hawaii and Alaska residents, please contact me for a shipping quote🚚

🛍️All Sales As-Is and Final. We don't accept returns, exchanges, or cancellations. But please contact us if you have any problems with your order. All shipped items are insured🛍️

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