Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8

Giovanni Battista Pittoni
Giovanni Battista Pittoni, Holy Family with Cupids, Venetian Baroque, Christmas

Early 18th Century

About the Item

In 2001 the German art historian Art historian and Raphael Expert, Prof. Jürg Meyer zur Capellen, published the painting "Die Heilige Familie" in a monographic article, ascribing the present work to the Venetian painter Giovanni Battista Pittoni (1687 -Venice - 1767). (Newspaper "Weltkunst", October 2001, No 12, p. 1850 f. ill.) He describes it as a typical work by this artist. Pittoni was one of the most influential and successful artists of the Venetian Settecento. He was a pupil of the Veronese Master Giovanni Balestra (1666-1740). His style is influenced by Sebastiano Ricci (1659-1734) and Giambattista Tiepolo (1696-1770). Giovanni Battista Pittoni was already successful at a young age and soon lead his own workshop. He created large-scale hitoria paintings, as well as large, religious altarpieces. In addition to Venetian and Upper Italian patrons, Pittoni also had many interested parties from Europe. His work is accordingly scattered in many different museums and private collections today. Pittoni - like other painter colleagues of his time - repeated his own compositions both by hand and with the help of his workshop. He repeatedly incorporated details into other pictures and contexts. Prof. Meyer zur Capellen noted the very good condition of the present work and the high quality of the paint with fine graduations and the vivid brushstrokes. Provenance: The panting has not been on the art market for at least 300 years. In the year 2000 the work was donated by the Münster-based, Noble Family Ketteler zu Harkotten to a private collection in Westphalia. Most probably the canon Nikolaus Hermann von Ketteler zu Harkotten bought the piece in Venice in 1750 together with the altarpiece of the Clemens Church in Münster. On the reverse of the work is a fideicommissum number by Ketteler zu Harkotten. As it belonged to the family commission, the painting was inalienable until 1919, when the corresponding law was repealed, and after that time it remained in the family's possession without interruption. Pittoni's only direct relationship to Münster is the commission for the high altar painting of the Baroque St. Clemens Church. It can be assumed that then canon von Ketteler saw this painting in the artist's workshop during his stay in Venice and acquired it for himself. This would also explain the discrepancy in dating. (ca. 1735/1750). However, it is also possible that the painting originated in the possession of Ferdinand von Plettenberg, who amassed an extensive collection of paintings at Nordkirchen Castle in the 18th century and which came to the von Ketteler family through family inheritance. It exists another version of the present work. It was included in Franca Zavas Boccazzi's 1979 monograph on Giovanni Battista Pittoni, published in 1979. (oil on canvas, 91 x 116 cm).
  • Creator:
    Giovanni Battista Pittoni (1687 - 1767, Italian)
  • Creation Year:
    Early 18th Century
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 41.74 in (106 cm)Diameter: 46.07 in (117 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Greven, DE
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU155028348532
More From This SellerView All
  • Circle Teniers, Flemish Art, Peasants smoking and drinking in a Tavern Interior
    By David Teniers the Younger
    Located in Greven, DE
    Circle or Follower of David Teniers, Peasant in a Tavern Inn, drinking and smoking. Oil on canvas, Framed: 39 x 47 cm. Typical Flemish Baroque Interior...
    Category

    17th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Canvas

  • Baroque Italian Old Master, Madonna, Child, Angels, Oval, Marratta, Christmas
    By Workshop Of Carlo Maratta
    Located in Greven, DE
    Religious Painting, depicting Madonna and the Child, surrounded by Angels by the Circle of Carlo Maratta (Maratti). This painting is wonderful example of...
    Category

    18th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • A Tavern Interior, 18th Century Old Master, Figurative Oil Painting by Schaak
    Located in Greven, DE
    A Tavern Interior - 18th Century Old Master, Figurative Oil Painting by Schaak Little is known about the artist J.S.C. Schaak. He was active in England as a portraitist between 1760-1770. His name indicates his German or Dutch origin. Especially portraits of generals...
    Category

    18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Copper

  • Ter Borch, Interior with elegant Ladies and a Gentleman, The Letter, Old Master
    By Gerard ter Borch the Younger
    Located in Greven, DE
    Painting after Gerard Ter Borch. The orginal "The Letter" is in Munich, Alte Pinakothek . It measures height: 56 cm (22 in); width: 46.5 cm (18.3 in) and dates from c. 1655.
    Category

    17th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Panel, Oil

  • Mother with Child, Rose, Old Master, Figurative Painting, Love, Christmas Scene
    Located in Greven, DE
    L. Franssen Mother and child with a rose Oil on wood, 44,5 x 33,5 cm signed The artist of this outstanding painting is completely unknown so far. There is no entry under "L. Franssen" in any encyclopaedia or reference work. There was a Dutch artist, Jan Fransen (1604/5 - ca. 1646), who was mainly based in Amsterdam. According to Thieme/Becker, he created numerous paintings with biblical depictions, study heads and still lifes. However, it could also have been Jan Franssen or Frantzen, who was not born until 1644 but was also active in Amsterdam. However, no confirmed works by either artist are known. Just as interesting as the attribution is the depiction: a young woman holds her child on her lap while she prepares a meal on a hob. At the same time she holds a rose in her hand. Most likely, Mary is depicted here with the young Jesus...
    Category

    18th Century Romantic Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • Sacra Conversazione, Maria, Christ, Old Master, Religious, Baroque Painting, art
    Located in Greven, DE
    Attributed to Peter Candid / Pieter de Witte (Bruges c. 1540 - 1628 Munich) Sacra Conversazione Oil on wood, 29 x 37 cm The painter, sculptor and architect Peter Candid, known in Italy as Pietro Candido, was born in Bruges between 1540 and 1548. In the 1560s he stayed in Florence, where he worked in the workshop of Giorgio Vasari, with whom he collaborated on a number of commissions for the House of Medici. After a brief stay in Volterra, he went to Munich in 1586. For the next 42 years, until his death, he remained court painter to Duke William V...
    Category

    17th Century Renaissance Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Panel, Oil

You May Also Like

Recently Viewed

View All