Francesco Fontebasso
[Saleroom Notice](Venice 1707–1769)
An architect in oriental costume, a calliper in his right hand,
oil on canvas, 47.5 x 38 cm, framed
This lot relates to an almost identical composition given to Giovanni Battista Pittoni (Venice 1687–1767) – sold Christie’s, London, 13 December 2000, lot 100, for £163,250.
Provenance:
art market, Italy;
Private Europe collection
We are grateful to Mauro Lucco for suggesting the attribution of the present painting after examination in the original.
The connection between Venice – aptly called the ‘Gateway to the East’ – and the Islamic world, particularly Turkey, has always been strong, dating back to the early Middle Ages. The depiction of figures dressed in ‘oriental’ attire, with varying degrees of realism, has been a constant in Venetian art. Notable examples can be found in the works of Giovanni and Gentile Bellini. These subjects reached the height of their popularity in Venice during the 18th century, before spreading across Europe with the rise of Orientalist fashion between the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Francesco Fontebasso, the most talented pupil of Sebastiano Ricci, was no exception to this trend. There are numerous sketches and figures dressed in oriental attire by Fontebasso, such as the works held at the British Museum, London (inv. no. 1920,0929.2), the Metropolitan Museum, New York (inv. no. 61.56.2), and the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne (inv. no. 1959/57). In this painting, characterised by Fontebasso’s free and vigorous brushwork, the central figure holds a calliper, indicating his profession as an architect or perhaps a mathematician. The artist pays special attention to the depiction of fabrics, enlivening them with vibrant colour contrasts. Fontebasso blends this theme with another recurring motif in Venetian art, the teste di fantasia, often used to showcase the diversity of attire from different countries.
While Sebastiano Ricci’s influence remained crucial to Fontebasso, his relationship with Tiepolo was equally significant. The inspiration for the present painting appears to stem from the portraits of philosophers dressed in oriental garments that emerged from Tiepolo’s workshop in the mid-18th century. A comparison can be made with Giovanni Battista Tiepolo’s painting now at Schwarzenberg Palace in Prague (DO 4628), dated between 1750 and 1755, as well as a later work by his son Giandomenico, recently sold at auction in New York (Christie’s, 31 January 2024, lot 75). In 1774, Giandomenico also published a collection of prints titled Raccolte di teste, further popularising his father’s imaginative creations.
Expert: Mark MacDonnell
Mark MacDonnell
+43 1 515 60 403
old.masters@dorotheum.at
22.10.2024 - 18:00
- Odhadní cena:
-
EUR 40.000,- do EUR 60.000,-
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Francesco Fontebasso
[Saleroom Notice](Venice 1707–1769)
An architect in oriental costume, a calliper in his right hand,
oil on canvas, 47.5 x 38 cm, framed
This lot relates to an almost identical composition given to Giovanni Battista Pittoni (Venice 1687–1767) – sold Christie’s, London, 13 December 2000, lot 100, for £163,250.
Provenance:
art market, Italy;
Private Europe collection
We are grateful to Mauro Lucco for suggesting the attribution of the present painting after examination in the original.
The connection between Venice – aptly called the ‘Gateway to the East’ – and the Islamic world, particularly Turkey, has always been strong, dating back to the early Middle Ages. The depiction of figures dressed in ‘oriental’ attire, with varying degrees of realism, has been a constant in Venetian art. Notable examples can be found in the works of Giovanni and Gentile Bellini. These subjects reached the height of their popularity in Venice during the 18th century, before spreading across Europe with the rise of Orientalist fashion between the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Francesco Fontebasso, the most talented pupil of Sebastiano Ricci, was no exception to this trend. There are numerous sketches and figures dressed in oriental attire by Fontebasso, such as the works held at the British Museum, London (inv. no. 1920,0929.2), the Metropolitan Museum, New York (inv. no. 61.56.2), and the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne (inv. no. 1959/57). In this painting, characterised by Fontebasso’s free and vigorous brushwork, the central figure holds a calliper, indicating his profession as an architect or perhaps a mathematician. The artist pays special attention to the depiction of fabrics, enlivening them with vibrant colour contrasts. Fontebasso blends this theme with another recurring motif in Venetian art, the teste di fantasia, often used to showcase the diversity of attire from different countries.
While Sebastiano Ricci’s influence remained crucial to Fontebasso, his relationship with Tiepolo was equally significant. The inspiration for the present painting appears to stem from the portraits of philosophers dressed in oriental garments that emerged from Tiepolo’s workshop in the mid-18th century. A comparison can be made with Giovanni Battista Tiepolo’s painting now at Schwarzenberg Palace in Prague (DO 4628), dated between 1750 and 1755, as well as a later work by his son Giandomenico, recently sold at auction in New York (Christie’s, 31 January 2024, lot 75). In 1774, Giandomenico also published a collection of prints titled Raccolte di teste, further popularising his father’s imaginative creations.
Expert: Mark MacDonnell
Mark MacDonnell
+43 1 515 60 403
old.masters@dorotheum.at
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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: | 22.10.2024 - 18:00 |
Místo konání aukce: | Wien | Palais Dorotheum |
Prohlídka: | 12.10. - 22.10.2024 |
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