18th Century Art

Religious Painting, depicting Madonna and the Child, surrounded by Angels by the Circle of Carlo Maratta (Maratti). This painting is wonderful example of...

French Art Rococo Portrait of a Woman, Young Lady, perhaps an actress

The splendour of the tragic sea Francesco Guardi and maritime painting in Venetian art No Venetian painter was a stranger to the sea. After all, Venice was not only one of the most prominent ports of the Mediterranean, but indeed a city literally submerged in the ocean from time to time. Curiously however, the famous Venetian school of painting showed little interest in maritime motifs, favouring scenes from the iconic architecture of the city rather than seascapes. That is why this painting is a particularly interesting window into not only the painter Francesco Guardi himself – but to the significance of the element of water in art history, in absence as well as in the centre of attention. Whether it be calm, sunny days with stunning views of the palaces alongside the canals of Venice or – more rarely – stormy shipwrecking tragedies at sea, water as a unifying element is integral to the works of painter Francesco Guardi (1712–1793). During his lifetime, Venetian art saw many of its greatest triumphs with names like Tiepolo or Canaletto gaining international recognition and firmly establishing Venice as one of the most vibrant artistic communities of Europe. While the city itself already in the 18th century was something of an early tourist spot where aristocrats and high society visited on their grand tour or travels, the artists too contributed to the fame and their work spread the image of Venice as the city of romance and leisure to an international audience, many of whom could never visit in person. Still today, the iconic image of Venice with its whimsical array of palaces, churches and other historic buildings is much influenced by these artists, many of whom have stood the test of time like very well and remain some of the most beloved in all of art history. It was not primarily subtility, intellectual meanings or moral ideals that the Venetian art tried to capture; instead it was the sheer vibrancy of life and the fast-paced city with crumbling palaces and festive people that made this atmosphere so special. Of course, Venice could count painters in most genres among its residents, from portraiture to religious motifs, history painting and much else. Still, it is the Vedutas and views of the city that seems to have etched itself into our memory more than anything else, not least in the tradition of Canaletto who was perhaps the undisputed master of all Venetian painters. Born into his profession, Francesco lived and breathed painting all his life. His father, the painter Domenico Guardi (1678–1716) died when Francesco was just a small child, yet both he and his brothers Niccolò and Gian Antonio continued in their fathers’ footsteps. The Guardi family belonged to the nobility and originated from the mountainous area of Trentino, not far from the Alps. The brothers worked together on more challenging commissions and supported each other in the manner typical of family workshops or networks of artists. Their sister Maria Cecilia married no other than the artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo himself, linking the family to the most renowned Venetian name of the time. During almost a decade, Guardi worked in the studio of Michele Giovanni Marieschi, sometimes simply known as Michiel, a painted similar in both style and motif. Canaletto is, however, the artist Guardi is most often compared to since they shared a mutual fascination for depicting the architecture and cityscape of Venice. During the course of his career, Guardi tried his hand in many different genres. He was as swift in painting landscapes, Vedutas of Venice, sacred motifs, interiors and architectural compositions as he was in a number of other motifs. His style is typical of the Venetian school but also distinct and personal once we look a little closer. There is an absolute certainty in the composition, the choice of which sometimes feels like that of a carefully calculated photograph – yet it is also very painterly, in the best sense of the word: fluid, bold, sensitive and full of character. The brushwork is rapid, intense, seemingly careless and extraordinarily minute at the same time; fresh and planned in a very enjoyable mixture. His interiors often capture the breath-taking spacious glamour of the palaces and all their exquisite decor. He usually constructed the motif through remarkably simple, almost spontaneous yet intuitively precise strokes and shapes. The result was a festive, high-spirited atmospheric quality, far away from the sterile and exact likeness that other painters fell victim to when trying to copy Canaletto. The painting here has nothing of the city of Venice in it. On the contrary, we seem to be transported far away into the solitary ocean, with no architecture, nothing to hold on to – only the roaring sea and the dangerous cliffs upon which the ships are just moments away from being crushed upon. It is a maritime composition evoking both Flemish and Italian precursors, in the proud tradition of maritime painting that for centuries formed a crucial part of our visual culture. This genre of painting is today curiously overlooked, compared to how esteemed and meaningful it was when our relationship to the sea was far more natural than it is today. When both people and goods travelled by water, and many nations and cities – Venice among them – depended entirely on sea fare, the existential connection to the ocean was much more natural and integrated into the imagination. The schools and traditions of maritime art are as manifold as there are countries connected to the sea, and all reflect the need to process the dangers and wonders of the ocean. It could symbolize opportunity, the exciting prospects of a new countries and adventures, prospering trade, beautiful scenery as well as war and tragedy, loss of life, danger and doom. To say that water is ambivalent in nature is an understatement, and these many layers were something that artists explored in the most wondrous ways. Perhaps it takes a bit more time for the modern eye to identify the different nuances and qualities of historic maritime paintings, they may on first impression seem hard to differentiate from each other. But when allowing these motifs to unfold and tell stories of the sea in both fiction and reality – or somewhere in between – we are awarded with an understanding of how the oceans truly built our world. In Guardi’s interpretation, we see an almost theatrically arranged shipwrecking scene. No less than five ships are depicted right in the moment of utter disaster. Caught in a violent storm, the waves have driven them to a shore of sharp cliffs and if not swallowed by the waves, crushing against the cliffs seems to be the only outcome. The large wooden ships are impressively decorated with elaborate sculpture, and in fact relics already during Guardi’s lifetime. They are in fact typical of Dutch and Flemish 17th century ships, giving us a clue to where he got the inspiration from. Guardi must have seen examples of Flemish maritime art, that made him curious about these particular motifs. One is reminded of Flemish painters like Willem van de Velde and Ludolf Backhuysen, and this very painting has indeed been mistakenly attributed to Matthieu van Plattenberg...

Pair of large painting oil on canvas with the Wedding Feast of Bacchus and Ariadne scene . Italy 18' century . Amazing landscape background and roman Temple with classical archite...

Rembrandt van Rijn, After by Amand Durand, Dutch (1606 - 1669) - Three Heads of Women, Year: of original: 1637, Medium: Etching, Size: 12 in. x 10 in. (30.48 cm x 25.4 cm), Printer:...

Portrait of John Hervey, 1st Earl of Bristol (1665-1751). Early 18th-century near-life-size portrait of a noble man richly dressed in a long wig. Circle of...

Flemish painter active in Italy in the eighteenth century Coastal landscape of the Mediterranean with architectures and figures Oil painting on canvas (69 x 88 cm., in frame 80 x 100 cm.) The suggestive view proposed depicts a coastal view with a bay and the ruins of an ancient building, probably a monastery or a church, and in the background another building with a garden surrounded by high walls close to the shore. The type of landscape, typical of the southern Italian environment, and the intimate atmosphere that welcomes the scene, attributes the authorship of the work to a landscape painter active in the eighteenth century, presumably in Italy in this period, with immediate references to the Dutch school , and in particular to the production of Jacob de Heusch and above all of Gaspar van Wittel, considered the progenitor of Italian landscape painting. In fact, in the rendering of the architectural details, in the purity with which the buildings have been reconstructed, as well as in the atmosphere that encompasses the entire landscape, a marked correspondence to the so-called "Vanvitellian realism" can be seen: in fact, a comparison with a certain series of views which the Dutchman...

Florentine painter (18th-19th century) - View of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo. 32 x 51 cm without frame, 42 x 63 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in a gilded w...

Portrait of Arab Man in Turban French artist, 18th century oil on canvas, framed Framed: 21 x 16.5 inches Canvas : 18.5 x 14 inches Provenance: private collection, France Condition: ...

George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...

The Pseudo-Guardi was an unidentified Venetian painter from the 18th or early 19th century who closely imitated the style of Francesco Guardi (1712–1793), one of the great Venetian v...

PRICE IS FOR THE SET OF TWELVE "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...

Capital letter for the Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed,  etching from the end of the 18th century, made by Various Old Masters. In very good condition, except for some stains alo...

"The Dead Bird" After Jean-Baptiste Greuze (1725-1805) oil painting on canvas, late 20th century from the studio of Dagher, Paris (read notes below), stampe...

Work on canvas Work re-lined Plaster and gilded wood frame 86 x 105 x 7 cm

Portrait of a Gentleman French School, 18th century oil on canvas, unframed canvas : 25 x 20 inches provenance: private collection, France condition: the painting is in sound conditi...

Ancient Roman Daily Life in Herculaneum from the series "Antiquities of Herculaneum", is an original etching on paper realized by Nicola Billy in the 18th century. Signed on the pla...

Oil on Canvas. Italian school of the late 1700s-early 1800s. The romantic-taste landscape sees a river flowing between rocky banks topped by leafy trees; on the bank, in the left for...

This is an original 18th century hand-colored copper-plate engraving by Giovanni Volpato after a drawing by Camporesi. It was the frontispiece for volume one of the rare and valuable...

This superb Dutch Old Master floral still life oil painting is attributed to circle of Simon Pietersz Verelst. Painted circa 1700 the compositio...

This superb British Old Master marine oil painting is attributed to Peter Monamy. Painted circa 1730 it depicts Morning Gun - A morning gun is a gun fired at the first note of revei...

Madonna with Sleeping Child Follower of Giovan Battista Salvi known as 'il Sassoferrato' (1609 - 1685) Roman painter 18th century Oil on canvas Measurements: canvas 64 x 50 cm, in frame 76 x 62 cm. This delicate depiction of the Madonna in adoration of the Child exhibits all the human dimension and sweetness of the maternal atmosphere: Mary clasps the sleeping child to her in a tender embrace, which touches her cheek, enveloped and protected by the mantle and even a flap of the mother's veil. The pictorial style and composition recall the ambit of Giovan Battista Salvi, the Sassoferrato, who distinguished himself expressly for this subject, with the Virgin immortalised in a humble and strongly earthly pose, depicted with simple white, red and blue colours and delicate plays of nuances on the faces and hands. This iconographic prototype was so successful that it became the painting for countless works destined for devotion during the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly appreciated for private commissions due to its marked gentleness and formal perfection, particularly of the faces. Born in Marchigiano, Salvi developed his activity in Rome, following the dictates of the classicist sacred painting of the Bolognese school of Reni, Carracci and Domenichino, but succeeding in having an autonomous and therefore clearly distinguishable style.  In very good overall condition, there are some small scattered restorations and some unravelling of the painted surface. Framed in a beautiful gilded frame. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The work is sold with a certificate of authenticity and descriptive iconographic card. We take care of and organise the transport of the purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. It is also possible to see the painting in the gallery in Riva del Garda...

James Stark (1794-1859) Herding cattle through a wooded river landscape Oil on canvas Canvas Size 18 x 24 in Framed Size 23 x 29 in James Stark (1794-1859): A Pioneer in Landscape P...

The Grand Canal, Venice, 18th Century circle of CANALETTO (1697-1768) Large 18th Century Italian view of the Grand Canal, Venice, oil on canvas. Excellent quality panoramic archite...

18th-century Neapolitan master Pair of paintings ‘Hagar and the Angel’ and ’The Sacrifice of Isaac’ Pair of oils on oval canvas 75 x 60 cm. - In frame 84 x 69 cm. The proposed pair...

18th century silk embroidered art work. Depicting children and fairy tales. It is very rare for works from this time period to depict a black...

Family Devotion with Cherubs French School, 18th century after the earlier work by Sir Peter Paul Rubens oil on canvas, unframed Canvas : 29 x 24 inches Provenance: private collectio...

English School, circa 1780’s Circle of George Romney (1734-1802) oil painting on canvas, framed framed: 36 x 30 inches canvas: 30 x 25 inches private collectio...

Engraving with extensive handcoloring, on laid paper with a Fleur de Lys watermark, with margins. Plate 11 13/16 x 15 3/4 (300 x 400 mm); Sheet: 12 1/2 x 16 3/8 inches (317 x 415 mm)...

German School, 1700s The Road to Emmaus oil on panel unframed: 24.3 x 17.5 cm (9.6 x 6.9 inches) framed: 34.5 x 28 cm (13.6 x 11 inches) Provenance: Swedish author and artist Amel...

Portrait of a Gentleman wearing a Ruff Collar Dutch/ French artist, 18th century oil painting on copper, unframed copper board : 6.75 x 5 inches provenance: private collection, UK co...

Oil on Canvas. This is an early copy of the work by Giovanni Battista Salvi, known as Sassoferrato (1609 -1685), now housed in the National Gallery of Umbria (Palazzo dei Priori), wh...

Circle of Carlo Labruzzi A view of Lake Nemi Oil on canvas Canvas Size 26 3/8 x 40 1/2 in Framed Size 35 x 49 in Carlo Labruzzi was an Italian painter, draftsman, and engraver, best...

We would like to thank Mr. Nicolas Lesur for confirming the autograph nature of the entire composition after a direct examination of the painting on November 27, 2024. This painting...

This superb Old Master later 17th/early 18th century oil painting is attributed to Baroque painter and German born animal artist Philipp Peter Roos. He was active in and near Rome fr...

Francesco Fontebasso (Venice 1709 - Venice 1769) Alexander the Great grants clemency to the Persians Oil on canvas 108 x 153 cm. In frame 120 x 164 cm. Fascinating for its interest...

Oil on Canvas. French school of the 2nd half of the 18th century. Probably the work of a follower of Claude Joseph Vernet (1714 -1789), a French painter who specialized in seascapes ...

The sitter, seated in a yellow silk gown trimmed with a pink bow playing the cello, is believed to be the artist Balthazar Denner's eldest daughter Catharina (1715-1744), after his marriage to Esther Winter in Hamburg in 1712. She is also recognisable in another portrait of the Denner family in the Hamburg Kunsthalle, painted circa 1740 by the artist's son, Jacob Denner (1722-1765). Oil on canvas in a period giltwood frame. Provenance: Private collection, Northern Germany Professor Helmut Borsch-Supan, Berlin, confirmed the authenticity of the painting after examining it in 2013. The painting will also be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisonnée of the artist, by Ute Mannhardt. Balthasar Denner...

A finely painted picture, possibly of the penitent Mary Magdelane, painted in oil on to a copper plate and dating to c1750. Condition Two old touch ins, tiny chip to the forehead...

After Jean-Baptiste Van Loo, A Portrait of King Louis XV of France (1710-1774) A magnificent quality three-quarter length portrait of King Louis XV of France and Navarre, painted in the 18th century after Jean-Baptiste Van Loo. Oil on canvas, in the original carved and gilt wood frame. Canvas: 40" high x 32" wide Frame: 46.5" high x 39" wide Very good condition, ready to hang. No damages noted. The present composition follows a portrait of Louis XV painted by Jean-Baptiste Van Loo in 1726-1727, today in Versailles. (Oil on canvas. 198.5 by 143 cm. Inv. no. MV 6942.) There were several full-length portraits painted by Van Loo of the young Louis XV, and all were executed in the years of or after his majority, 1723, when he took full control of government, wresting power from the Régent, his great-uncle Philippe, Duc d'Orléans. A slightly larger version (205 by 171 cm), in which the pose and surrounding paraphernalia mirrors that of the present work, is in the Château de Versailles, while another, in which Louis stands more front-on, his pointing right index-finger now tucked in, and with a different background arrangement, is also in Versailles. Further versions of this latter are in Nice, Musée Chéret and the Musée de Perpignan. The composition of all of these full-lengths would appear to derive from Van Loo's large equestrian portrait of Louis XV, painted in collaboration with Charles Parrocel, which was commissioned in 1723 by the Surintendance for Charles de Lorraine. Louis is depicted in similar armour and costume, astride his horse, similarly turned three-quarters to the left and his right arm outstretched. Most subsequent depictions of Louis followed this original design, including, for example, Carle Van...

A large pair of 18th century veduta capriccio scenes with temple ruins after Gennaro Greco from the circle of Pietro Cappelli. The paintings are presented in more modern carved gilt ...

Artist: William Curtis (English, 1746-1799) Title: "Chironia Baccifera Berry-Bearing Chironia" (Vol. 7, Plate 233) Portfolio: The Botanical Magazine; or, Flower-Garden Displayed Year...

FINE ORIGINAL ANTIQUE 18th CENTURY BRITISH OLD MASTER OIL PAINTING MAN O WAR IN HARBOUR Description Good Condition canvas but very old with some browning in places (see picture). C...

Italianate landscape garden with classical ornament, including Giambologna's Sabine women and a classical urn, view to a bay beyond Coplestone War...

Flemish or South German, c. 1700-1720 Hunting trophy with a deer and game, adorned with the accoutrements of the chase Oil on canvas In a period style moulded pine and ebony veneer...

Greek, 18th century An icon depicting Saint Charalambos Painted with a Christogram and crucifix verso Egg tempera, gilt and gesso on panel, within a gilded frame border 45.4 x 35.5 c...

'Mgnaminia' Italian School, 18th century ink and wash drawing on paper, framed within a light oak wood frame (behind glass) image size: 10.5 x 7 inches overall framed: 17 x 13 inches...

Oil on Canvas. The painting looks to the similar work by Paolo Veronese (1528-1588), dated around 1560-70 and now in the Prado Museum, from which our painting takes up the compositio...

Duomo of Milan with peasants is a modern artwork realized by an Italian Artist in 18th century. Mixed colored oil on canvas 40x33cm with frame included. Good conditions.

Greyhound 1773-1802 Engraving 14 x 10 inches Framed: 24 x 21 inches

Wonderful 18th century English gouache on paper of a 18th century English scene of a groom with a horse in a landscape. One of a set of five all framed in Hogarth frames. L.Green ...

Justus Juncker (1703-1763, Germany) Attributed to Scholar Sharpening His Quill Penn Expertise: We would like to thank Dr. Fred G Meijer for his valuab...

Piramide - Porta S.Paolo is an original etching of the Late 18th century realized by Giuseppe Vasi. Signed and titled on plate lower margin. Good conditions. Giuseppe Vasi (Corl...

Continental school Oil on canvas Depicting the annunciation of the shepherds 18th/19th century No visible signature Realigned/restored 26.5 x 30.5

18th century Dutch old master oil, A boy playing the flute by Margaretha Wulfraet The present painting captures a young boy standing gracefully in a sunlit park, his fingers resting...

Two soldiers is an etching realized by Giambattista Tiepolo in 1785.  Sheet 23 x 30 cm. Good impressions on paper, with wide margins. Reference: D...

Thomas Luny Battle of Tory Island 1759-1837 Oil on Canvas, signed and dated '1825' lower left Image Size: 34 x 23 1/2 inches (86.5 x 59.5 cm) Handmade gilt frame This painting is of Commodore Sir J.B. Warren BT in H.M.S Canada together with H.M.S Robust, H.M.S Foudroyant and five frigates, engaging a French fleet under commodore J.B.F. Bompart, 12th October, 1798 and thereby preventing an invasion of Ireland and Lough Swilly. Britain’s enemies in Europe had long recognised Ireland as a weak point in Britain’s defences. The attempt by the French during the French revolutionary Wars to land troops in Ireland in 1798 as depicted here became known as the Battle of Tory Island. The Society of United Irishmen, led by Wolfe Tone...

Devota profesion from Los Caprichos is an original artwork realized by the artist Francisco Goya and published for the first time in 1799. Etching and a...

La scena è dominata dalla croce, sulla quale risalta il corpo ben modellato e dal colore bianco brillanto di Cristo, dipinta con una prospettiva laterale. La parte sinistra è occupa...

This interesting Italian 18th century Old Master oil painting is by noted artist Marco Marcola, also known as Marco Marcuola. It was painted circa 1770 and has excellent provenance. ...

Military Camp Scene and Battle. Pietro Graziani (XVII/XVIII century), entourage. A pair ( two) of small paintings. Antique XIX century frames in gilt wood.  In good condition. Oi...

Oil on Canvas. Venetian school of the 18th century. The large northern landscape, with verdant mountain slopes in the midst of which a river flows, is inhabited by several figures in...

Thomas Smith of Derby Matlock High-Torr Landscape Oil on canvas 27 x 34.5 inches unframed 34 x 41.5 inches including frame Thomas Smith of Derby (died 12 September 1767) was an Engl...

Temple from "Antiquities of Herculaneum" is an etching on paper realized by Francesco La Vega in the 18th Century. Signed on the plate. Good conditions. The etching belongs to the...

Outstanding early 18th-century portrait of a seated Spaniel dog in a landscape with an array of fruits. Attributed to the work of Tobias Stranover. ...

This charming 18th century French Old Master oil painting is attributed to circle of Joseph Frans Nollekens. Painted circa 1740 it is described as a fete champetre - a form of entertainment in the 18th century, taking the form of a garden party. They were often elegant affairs and became very popular in 18th French paintings. Antoine Watteau invented the genre, from around 1710 and they were also included as a category in the French Academy. In this painting, several well dressed figures are sat in the foreground by a fountain and statue, being entertained by a musician. Beyond, a wide avenue of trees leads towards a very grand country house with countryside beyond. There is superb detail in the figures and their colourful clothing. The brushwork in the trees and sky is also superb. This is a charming example of an 18th century fete champetre and of a French Old Master oil painting. Provenance. Gloucester estate. Condition. Oil on canvas. Image size 49 inches by 30 inches and in good condition. Frame. Housed in a fine gilt frame, 56 inches by 37 inches and in good condition. Josef Frans Nollekens or Joseph Frans Nollekens (1702–1748)[2] was a Flemish painter who was principally active in England where he is often referred to as "Old Nollekens" to distinguish him from his famous son, the sculptor Joseph Nollekens. He painted conversation pieces, galant companies and fêtes champêtres in the style of Watteau, genre scenes as well as portraits. He was also active as a picture restorer. A fête champêtre was a form of entertainment in the 18th century, taking the form of a garden party. This form of entertainment was particularly practised by the French court, where in the Gardens of Versailles and elsewhere areas of the park were landscaped with follies, pavilions, and temples to accommodate such festivities. The term is a French expression, very literally translating as "party in the fields", meaning a "pastoral festival" or "country feast" and in theory was a simple form of entertainment, perhaps little more than a picnic or informal open air dancing. In practice, especially in the 18th century, the simplicity of the event was often contrived. A fête champêtre was often a very elegant form of entertainment involving on occasions whole orchestras hidden in trees, with guests sometimes in fancy dress. Such events became a popular subject in French 18th-century painting, representing a glamourized aristocratic form of pastoral, with "scenes of well dressed dalliance in a park setting". Antoine Watteau invented the genre, from around 1710, and is its best exponent, imitated by others such as Nicolas Lancret and Jean-Baptiste Pater...

CITES Documentation: IT/CE/2023/MI/00454 Exceptional composition with ivory microsculptures and landscape made of semi-precious stones, shells, and small corals in coeval carved and...

Spectacular painting from the first half of the 18th century. Oil on canvas artwork depicting a splendid still life attributable to the Italian painter Nicola Casissa (with authentic...

"The Rape of the Sabine Women," veined alabaster, large sculptural group with classical subject, Volterra manufacture, 18th century. The so-called Rape of the Sabine Women is a scu...

An 18th century, hand carved porphyry head of “Marcus Aurelius” mounted on a Carrara marble base.

A fine, large 18th century veduta capriccio scene with temple ruins after Gennaro Greco from the circle of Pietro Cappelli. The painting is presented in a more modern carved gilt woo...

A charming watercolor Baroque architectural study. Unsigned. Presented in a gilt frame and wash line mount. On Laid paper.

Artist: Unknown (Likely French, 18th Century) Title: "La Femme Muse" *No signature found Circa: 1780 Medium: Original Pastel Drawing on heavy laid paper Frami...