Girl of Valdarno by Vinciata (Joseph Wallace King), Vintage Print on Canvas, Gilt Frame, c. 1970s
Viridian Eclection
The Piece
A young woman with long fair hair looks out with a level, unhurried gaze, her shoulders wrapped in a soft green shawl. Behind her a storm-blue sky breaks over a hazy valley, the landscape dissolving the way it does behind the sitters of the Florentine Renaissance. The palette is all honey, sage and slate blue, and the face is modelled with the soft shading that made this image one of the most loved portraits of the 1970s.
The canvas sits in a gilt wood frame with a linen liner, the presentation it has kept since it first went on the wall.
History & Provenance
Girl of Valdarno is the work of Joseph Wallace King (1911–1996), the Winston-Salem portrait painter who signed his Renaissance-manner pictures Vinciata, a name he took from a castle near Florence. King lost his left arm at eleven and went on to paint Admiral Richard Byrd, Queen Elizabeth II and President Richard Nixon. As Vinciata he showed for twenty years at Hammer Galleries in New York. His estate dates Girl of Valdarno to 1972, and it became the most widely circulated of all his images.
This example is a period reproduction printed on textured canvas, signed Vinciata in yellow script at the lower left as part of the print. It came to us from a family that kept it on the stairwell wall for two generations. His life and work are written up in full on our Joseph Wallace King (Vinciata) artist page.
Product Details
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Object | Portrait, Girl of Valdarno, after Vinciata (Joseph Wallace King) |
| Origin | United States |
| Form | Framed print on canvas, gilt wood frame with linen liner |
| Material | Printed textured canvas, mounted; wood frame |
| Marks | Signature "Vinciata" printed in yellow script, lower left |
| Era | 1970s; composition dated 1972 |
| Condition | Good vintage condition with light wear to the canvas edges and frame consistent with age; please see photographs. Condition Guaranteed. |
| Availability | One of a Kind — 1 Available |
Why It Belongs in Your Home
Few images say 1970s American interior quite like this one. Hung on a stair landing, in a hallway or above a console, she gives a room a presence to meet every time you pass, and the gilt frame and soft palette sit easily against dark paint, wallpaper, wood paneling or plaster. For a collector of mid-century and seventies decor, she is the real thing: the image that hung in homes across the country, with a remarkable painter behind it.
To keep it at its best, hang it out of direct sun and away from heat sources and humidity. Dust the frame with a soft, dry brush, and wipe the canvas only with a dry, lint-free cloth.
Every piece is packed with professional-grade materials: multiple foam layers, double-boxing, directional and fragile handling labels. For large furniture we use custom timber crating. We photograph packing before dispatch and can provide images on request.
White-glove delivery is complimentary within 100 miles of Reno, NV. National shipping quotes provided at checkout. All shipments are photographed and documented. Damage claims must be filed with the carrier; we provide all documentation needed to support your claim.
Local pickup is available at Viridian HQ (Reno, NV) with 2–4 days notice. Contact us to arrange. Private viewings also available.
All antique and vintage items are sold as described and all sales are final. Each listing includes detailed condition notes and photographs so you can make a fully informed decision. We encourage buyers to ask questions — about condition, dimensions, finish, provenance — before purchasing.
Antiques are irreplaceable and one-of-a-kind. Carrier handling is outside our control once a piece has left our facility, and major carriers including FedEx do not insure antiques. We do everything within our power to ensure safe transit, but cannot accept liability for carrier damage. If damage occurs in transit, we will provide full documentation to support your carrier claim.
Have a question? — we're happy to provide additional photos, condition detail, or discuss the piece directly.
