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Lot Essay
Born in Ancona in 1710 Francesco Foschi was a painter famous for his subtle winter landscapes. Foschi's works were very much in vogue in the late eighteenth century and sold to the most prestigious members of European society at high prices.
The present composition A Winter Landscape is characteristic of the artist. In his favourite subject Foschi focuses on careful observation of nature, using heavy brushstrokes and painting small figures in a soft, white landscape. He often used an almost monochrome color range with a dark, threatening sky. A group of two horsemen, a little girl and a man can be seen approaching a picturesque village set at the foot of rocky snow-covered crags. Another man is crossing the river via a bridge to greet them, and in the doorways of the two stone houses in the middle-ground women look on at this scene of homecoming. The landscape itself is constructed in a series of irregular, projecting forms that rise high into the gray sky. The tiny figures provide a sense of the scale of the overwhelmingly beautiful landscape. Despite the harsh weather conditions and the somewhat hostile landscape this scene conveys a sense of warmth, indeed the interrelationship of space, figures and nature, subdued light and monochromatic colors creates a scene of tranquil harmony and peace which catered to eighteenth century taste.
The present composition A Winter Landscape is characteristic of the artist. In his favourite subject Foschi focuses on careful observation of nature, using heavy brushstrokes and painting small figures in a soft, white landscape. He often used an almost monochrome color range with a dark, threatening sky. A group of two horsemen, a little girl and a man can be seen approaching a picturesque village set at the foot of rocky snow-covered crags. Another man is crossing the river via a bridge to greet them, and in the doorways of the two stone houses in the middle-ground women look on at this scene of homecoming. The landscape itself is constructed in a series of irregular, projecting forms that rise high into the gray sky. The tiny figures provide a sense of the scale of the overwhelmingly beautiful landscape. Despite the harsh weather conditions and the somewhat hostile landscape this scene conveys a sense of warmth, indeed the interrelationship of space, figures and nature, subdued light and monochromatic colors creates a scene of tranquil harmony and peace which catered to eighteenth century taste.