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Lot Essay
Antonio Bellucci first studied painting in Dalmatia, before moving to Venice by around 1675. His early work shows the influence of Pietro Liberi, Andrea Celesti and Antonio Zanchi, all of whom specialised in 'historic' decoration and who sought to revive the glorious palette and sensuality of Venetian 16th Century painting.
In 1692 Bellucci travelled to Austria, where he executed four altarpieces for the Church of the Convent of Klosternburg. It was at this time that he caught the eye of Johann Adam Andreas von Liechtenstein, who commissioned Bellucci to decorate his Palace in the Bankgasse, Vienna, as well as his castle at Feldsberg and his Summer Palace in Rossau.
The present work is very close in style to these Liechtenstein paintings, and probably dates from around 1700. His innovative style, combining close observation of nature with an ornamental and highly decorative sense of composition marked an important transition in Venetian painting from the late Baroque style to the lighter fantasies of the Rococo. His work proved an inspiration to such artists as Sebastiano Ricci and Antonio Balestra.
In 1705 Bellucci travelled to Dusseldorf, at the request of Johann Wilhelm, Elector of the Palatinate, for whom he painted until 1716. He continued his travels through Germany and then to England. Other patrons included Emperor Joseph I, the Princess of Schonborn at Pommersfelden, as well as the Duke of Chandos and Lord Burlington, before he returned home to Venice in 1722.
We are very grateful to Professor Ugo Ruggeri for the attribution to Antonio Bellucci, given on the basis of photographs.
In 1692 Bellucci travelled to Austria, where he executed four altarpieces for the Church of the Convent of Klosternburg. It was at this time that he caught the eye of Johann Adam Andreas von Liechtenstein, who commissioned Bellucci to decorate his Palace in the Bankgasse, Vienna, as well as his castle at Feldsberg and his Summer Palace in Rossau.
The present work is very close in style to these Liechtenstein paintings, and probably dates from around 1700. His innovative style, combining close observation of nature with an ornamental and highly decorative sense of composition marked an important transition in Venetian painting from the late Baroque style to the lighter fantasies of the Rococo. His work proved an inspiration to such artists as Sebastiano Ricci and Antonio Balestra.
In 1705 Bellucci travelled to Dusseldorf, at the request of Johann Wilhelm, Elector of the Palatinate, for whom he painted until 1716. He continued his travels through Germany and then to England. Other patrons included Emperor Joseph I, the Princess of Schonborn at Pommersfelden, as well as the Duke of Chandos and Lord Burlington, before he returned home to Venice in 1722.
We are very grateful to Professor Ugo Ruggeri for the attribution to Antonio Bellucci, given on the basis of photographs.