拍品專文
Leonardo was born in Calatayud but in 1612 he moved to Madrid and probably started an apprenticeship to the renowned teacher, Pedro de las Cuevas. His first known works of 1625 for the altarpiece of the church of Santiago, Cebreros, reveal the influence of one of the great court painters, Eugenio Cajes. Leonardo received several commissions from Philip IV, including pictures for the Hall of Realms, and as a result he came into contact with Velázquez whose style he greatly admired.
The present work, which can be dated to the 1630's reflects this influence and can be compared to the Birth of the Virgin and the Saint Sebastian in the Prado, Madrid, Inv. nos. 860 & 67. Perhaps his most famous work, also dating from this last decade of his artistic life is the Surrender of Juliers, dated 1634, in the Prado, Inv. no. 858. Leonardo suffered a mental breakdown in the 1640's after which he ceased to paint. He was eventually committed to an insane asylum in Saragosa where he died in 1652.
The subject, taken from the Petits Bollandistes, tells of Saint Francis of Paola's encounter with Ferdinand I. Passing through Naples on his way to Tours to meet King Louis XI, Saint Francis was entertained by Ferdinand I who invited him to supper. The saint refused as he thought it would be indecorous, so to test his resolve Ferdinand sent him some fried fish as a meal. Francis blessed the fish and they were restored to life.
We are grateful to Paul Taylor, The Warburg Institute, for his assistance in identifying the subject of the painting.
The present work, which can be dated to the 1630's reflects this influence and can be compared to the Birth of the Virgin and the Saint Sebastian in the Prado, Madrid, Inv. nos. 860 & 67. Perhaps his most famous work, also dating from this last decade of his artistic life is the Surrender of Juliers, dated 1634, in the Prado, Inv. no. 858. Leonardo suffered a mental breakdown in the 1640's after which he ceased to paint. He was eventually committed to an insane asylum in Saragosa where he died in 1652.
The subject, taken from the Petits Bollandistes, tells of Saint Francis of Paola's encounter with Ferdinand I. Passing through Naples on his way to Tours to meet King Louis XI, Saint Francis was entertained by Ferdinand I who invited him to supper. The saint refused as he thought it would be indecorous, so to test his resolve Ferdinand sent him some fried fish as a meal. Francis blessed the fish and they were restored to life.
We are grateful to Paul Taylor, The Warburg Institute, for his assistance in identifying the subject of the painting.