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Portrait of a Gentleman

This beautiful Italian 18th Century old masters oil painting on oval canvas with giltwood frame is attributed to Solimena and features a religious scene. In this splendid oval-shaped painting are depicted Saint Dominic...

This museum quality old master oil on canvas formal portrait painting depicting the family of the Count Zanardi is signed by the artist- the female painter Lucia Casalini Torelli- and published in a book dedicated to Casalini Torelli’s workshop and academy. This palatial masterpiece artwork comes directly from the ancient Villa Maraini Guerrieri - Palidano di Gonzaga (Mantua), an historic Italian heritage building owned by the descendants of the family portrayed for more than two centuries, until 1998. The big scale of this oil on canvas masterpiece painting states the relevance of Lucia Casalini Torelli as a painter. The present artwork is a formal family portrait painting that aim to introduce the characters depicted according to their social role in the society. The noble family is all gathered under a loggia overlooking a park, the landscape in the background is partially covered by a beautiful red cloth on the right side. The father stands up and holds the hand of his eldest son, proudly introducing his future heir. The son wears a light-blue dress and red boots, he is depicted in a serious pose holding a black tricorn hat under his arm and a rapier sword on his belt. The mother wears an elegant gold and dark green brocade dress, she is sitting with her youngest daughter on her knees while her second son is by her side. The little daughter wears a lovely long red and dress with white lace and holds an apple on her hand. The son stands next to his mother and is dressed in a brown priestly clothes. This palatial old masters piece was probably painted in 1740 due to the similarities with Cardinal Doria’ s portrait, now on display at the Doria Palace Museum, the official residence of the Prince of Genoa. The painting features original canvas (“prima tela”) and antique original patina, it is in excellent overall condition considering the age, use and its large scale. A formal detailed condition report and the results of the inspection with the UV lamp accompanied by photos is available on request. As well as for its exceptional quality and quite perfect state of conservation, this painting is particularly important and even more valuable both for the artist who painted it and for its absolutely exclusive provenance. Lucia painted the most prominent and powerful noble families of her time, the location of these paintings is unknown to the art market as it is extremely likely that the portraits are still kept in private collections. Furthermore, Lucia was one of the most appreciated artists of her time, so important that she was admitted as a member of the academy at a time when women were forbidden to attend these studies. In 1706, Felice Torelli...

CHRISTOFFEL LUBIENIECKI (1659-1729) Pair of portraits of a gentleman and a lady, both in silk kimono, before a country house (circa 1680) Indistinctly signed “C.......” on a box under the man’s left hand Oil on canvas, 79.5 x 67 cm each Both sitters are portrayed wearing a silk “Japanese” coat. During the second half of the seventeenth the Japanese silk coat, an adapted Japanese kimono, became a real vogue in the Dutch elite. The exclusive Dutch trade contacts with Japan can explain the popularity of the kimono-style silk coats in the Netherlands. Everybody who could afford one, dressed in such a fashionable and comfortable coat and, like the present sitters, some proud owners had themselves portrayed in a “Japanese” coat often together with an oriental carpet to underline their standing and international connections. These portraits are the work of the Polish-born portraitist Christoffel Lubieniecki (also known as Lubienitski, Lubinitski or Lubiniecki) Lubieniecki was first trained in Hamburg under Julian Stuhr and after 1675 in Amsterdam under Adriaen Backer and Gerard de Lairesse. He specialized in landscapes, generally of an Italianate character, and in portraits. The loving execution of these contented burghers, enjoying the garden vistas of their country house, places him alongside Amsterdam portraitists such as Constantijn Netscher and Michiel van Musscher...

Artist: Antonio Mercurio Amorosi (Comunanza, Italy, 1660 - 1738) Title: Portrait of a little girl with cat Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: without frame 42 x 31.5 cm – with frame 5...

Giuseppe Antonio Petrini, (Carona, Italy, 1677 – 1757 ca.) Title: Portrait of Saint Peter Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: without frame 75.5 x 63 cm - with frame 96 x 83 x 5 cm Not signed Expertise by Professor Giancarlo Sestieri Provenance: Luigi Koeliker - Koetser Collection. Collection number 858 on verso. The apostle in half-length portrait, looking upwards. His shoulders are bare from his blue shirt, a brown cloak is draped over his arm. In his hand he holds the ‘keys to paradise’, which make him attributively recognisable. The bearded face shows the pleading remorse for his defamation of Christ described in the biblical account. The painting style immediately reveals Petrini's brushwork. The painter, who was born in Ticino, is one of the northern Italian-Lombard artists of the late Baroque period, who was possibly associated with Bartolomeo Guidobono (1654-1709) in Turin after 1700 and is documented with works in his home city between 1711 and 1753. Works by his hand were mainly found in the Como, Bergamo and Lugano areas. Other depictions of St Peter can be found in the church of Dubino and in a private collection in Montagnola. In 1991, an exhibition of his works was organised at the Villa Malpensata in Lugano, Switzerland. The painter was the son of a sculptor and, according to the sources, a pupil of the Genoese painter Bartolomeo Guidobono (1654-1709). However, he was also inspired by the works of Andrea Pozzo (1642-1709). Works by his hand can be found in several churches in Piedmont, such as San Maurizio in Pinerolo. At the end of the 1730s, a strong development towards the Rococo style can be recognised, as demonstrated by his ‘Allegories of the Seasons’ (Lugano Art...

Pietro Bardellino (Naples, Italy, 1731 – 1806) Title: Mary Magdalene Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: without frame 75 x 60 cm – with frame 97 x 82 cm Antique shaped and carved wood...

Alessandro Longhi (Venice, Italy, 1733 – 1813) Title: Portrait of a young musician in front of his desk with a score in his hand Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: without frame 39.5 ...

17th Century Neapolitan Maestro Title: San Vincenzo Ferreri Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: without frame 63 x 48.5 cm - with frame 77 x 63.5 cm Original shaped, carved, sculpted a...

Bernardo Strozzi, also known as “Il Cappuccino” and “il Prete Genovese”, (Genoa, Italy, 1581 – Venice, Italy, 1644) Title: Portrait of a man with white collar Medium: Oil on canvas D...

Giuseppe Assereto (Genova - 1626 ca – Genova 1656/57) Title: Portrait of an elderly woman, possible portrait of Maddalena Massone, wife of Gioacchino Assereto Medium: Oil on canvas D...