Čís. položky 54


Giovanni Francesco Romanelli


Giovanni Francesco Romanelli - Obrazy starých mistrů

(Viterbo 1610–1662)
Venus and Adonis departing for the hunt,
oil on canvas, 194 x 148 cm, unframed

Provenance:
art market, Sweden;
where acquired by the present owner

We are grateful to Ursula Verena Fischer Pace for confirming the attribution of the present painting on the basis of a photograph.

The present painting shows the myth of Venus and Adonis; a tale of Greek origins recounted in its Latin version by Ovid in his Metamorphoses. Venus was in love with young Adonis, whose beauty was renowned among the gods. One day when he was hunting, Adonis was attacked by a boar – in one version of the story the animal was sent by Mars, jealous of his young rival. Adonis died in the arms of Venus; the moment here depicted however is the one which just precedes the tragic events. Venus is painfully aware of her lover’s destiny, and looks in agony at him, knowing that he will not return from the hunt.

Romanelli’s composition, of which a variation of the same subject is conserved in the Musée du Louvre, Paris (fig. 1), shows the distinctive modeling of the figures, as well as the strong highlights on the drapery’s folds. Francesco Romanelli was educated by Jesuits in Viterbo and had, even at a young age, mastered a comprehensive knowledge of classical literature. Having completed his studies, he moved to Rome and, possibly after a short apprenticeship with Domenichino, was employed by Pietro da Cortona in around 1630. Together with his master, Romanelli painted a set of frescoes for the chapel of Palazzo Barberini. The distinguished commission marks the beginning of a long relationship between the artist and the court of Pope Urban VIII which guaranteed Romanelli’s status for the years to come; in 1638 he was elected Principe of the Accademia di San Luca.

The present painting is among the larger canvases executed by Romanelli, whose ability to work in large-scale was honed by the number of prestigious frescoes he was commissioned to create. Called to Paris in 1646 by Cardinal Mazzarino to decorate his residence, Romanelli suggested a cycle with the history of Rome. Cardinal Mazzarino, however, preferred something which could better illustrate the vitality of his country and its artists: Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

Expert: Mark MacDonnell Mark MacDonnell
+43 1 515 60 403

oldmasters@dorotheum.com

10.11.2021 - 16:00

Odhadní cena:
EUR 40.000,- do EUR 60.000,-

Giovanni Francesco Romanelli


(Viterbo 1610–1662)
Venus and Adonis departing for the hunt,
oil on canvas, 194 x 148 cm, unframed

Provenance:
art market, Sweden;
where acquired by the present owner

We are grateful to Ursula Verena Fischer Pace for confirming the attribution of the present painting on the basis of a photograph.

The present painting shows the myth of Venus and Adonis; a tale of Greek origins recounted in its Latin version by Ovid in his Metamorphoses. Venus was in love with young Adonis, whose beauty was renowned among the gods. One day when he was hunting, Adonis was attacked by a boar – in one version of the story the animal was sent by Mars, jealous of his young rival. Adonis died in the arms of Venus; the moment here depicted however is the one which just precedes the tragic events. Venus is painfully aware of her lover’s destiny, and looks in agony at him, knowing that he will not return from the hunt.

Romanelli’s composition, of which a variation of the same subject is conserved in the Musée du Louvre, Paris (fig. 1), shows the distinctive modeling of the figures, as well as the strong highlights on the drapery’s folds. Francesco Romanelli was educated by Jesuits in Viterbo and had, even at a young age, mastered a comprehensive knowledge of classical literature. Having completed his studies, he moved to Rome and, possibly after a short apprenticeship with Domenichino, was employed by Pietro da Cortona in around 1630. Together with his master, Romanelli painted a set of frescoes for the chapel of Palazzo Barberini. The distinguished commission marks the beginning of a long relationship between the artist and the court of Pope Urban VIII which guaranteed Romanelli’s status for the years to come; in 1638 he was elected Principe of the Accademia di San Luca.

The present painting is among the larger canvases executed by Romanelli, whose ability to work in large-scale was honed by the number of prestigious frescoes he was commissioned to create. Called to Paris in 1646 by Cardinal Mazzarino to decorate his residence, Romanelli suggested a cycle with the history of Rome. Cardinal Mazzarino, however, preferred something which could better illustrate the vitality of his country and its artists: Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

Expert: Mark MacDonnell Mark MacDonnell
+43 1 515 60 403

oldmasters@dorotheum.com


Horká linka kupujících Po-Pá: 10.00 - 17.00
old.masters@dorotheum.at

+43 1 515 60 403
Aukce: Obrazy starých mistrů
Typ aukce: Sálová aukce s Live bidding
Datum: 10.11.2021 - 16:00
Místo konání aukce: Wien | Palais Dorotheum
Prohlídka: 29.10. - 10.11.2021