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Giovanni Cassana
TWO TORTOISESHELL GUINEA PIGS, Italian Old Master Painting 17th C Oil Canvas

circa 1690

About the Item

Giovanni Agostino Cassana Venice, c. 1658 – 1720 Genoa Two Tortoiseshell Guinea-Pigs Oil on canvas 10 1/2 x 12 1/2 inches (26.7 x 31.7 cm) Framed: 16 1/2 x 18 1/2 inches Giovanni Cassana received his earliest training from his father and his brother who was then a well-known portrait painter and from Jacob van de Kerkhoven, an acclaimed Flemish animal painter who lived in Venice. Cassana began his career painting portraits and later became more specialized in still life paintings of game and hunting. He may have abandoned portraiture in order to distinguish himself from his brother but also certainly because in Genoa still life paintings were more widely sought after than any other subject. In Genoa he met and was highly influenced by Giovanni Castiglione, called it Grechetto. In 1711, he became a member of the painter’s guild in Venice and shortly thereafter moved to Genoa. In our piece Two Tortoiseshell Guinea Pigs, Cassana has depicted two guinea pigs sitting in close proximity to each other, their heads almost touching, living the piece with an air of intimacy. One of them is busying itself, chewing on a straw, looking straight at the beholder, while the other guinea pig is turned towards its better half. Cassana skillfully brings the featured guinea pigs to life with their highly engaging expressions. The color scheme is relatively limited. Set against a dark background, the guinea pigs stand out. The fur around their heads is held in a sparkling white color that creates a beautiful contrast to the background. Cassana’s many renderings of are characterized by their high quality, and as it is the case in our alluring piece, he demonstrates great attention to detail in the execution of the guinea pigs’ fur. In addition, attention to detail such as the whiskers and soft nose of the guinea pigs, contributes to the overall endearing quality of this painting.
  • Creator:
    Giovanni Cassana (1658 - 1720, Italian)
  • Creation Year:
    circa 1690
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 14.5 in (36.83 cm)Width: 16.5 in (41.91 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
    Late 17th Century
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    New York, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2733214639362

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