'Every valley and mountain village in Savoy is quite different from its neighbour, each remains quite happily ignorant of what goes on in other parts of the country and in the world in general.' (Estella Canziani, 1911) [http://www.bmagic.org.uk/objects/1931P968.495] This is one of a group of small tempera paintings by Estella Canziani in the Birmingham Collection. They are particularly valuable in providing documentary information on the clothes and associated lifestyle of local people living in remote villages... Estella Canziani, daughter of the English painter Louisa Starr and an Italian engineer, was an accomplished artist and fascinated by the traditional costumes, customs and folklore that were rapidly disappearing with the dawn of the 20th century. Her collection of artifacts, costumes, stories and legends together with the paintings and drawings she made are an invaluable record of the people of England, France and Italy amongst whom she lived. One hundred years after their first publication, the books of Estella Canziani are still in print and her illustrations are always sought after by collectors and historians. [http://www.bijouxregionaux.fr/en/contenu.php?idcontenu=69]