![THE NATIVITY, miniature on vellum illuminated by an artist in the Circle of Giovanni Battista Castello, il Genovese [Genoa, c.1600]](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2017/NYR/2017_NYR_13874_0116_000(the_nativity_miniature_on_vellum_illuminated_by_an_artist_in_the_circl091741).jpg?w=1)
Property from the Private Collection of Margot Gordon
THE NATIVITY, miniature on vellum illuminated by an artist in the Circle of Giovanni Battista Castello, il Genovese [Genoa, c.1600]
Details
THE NATIVITY, miniature on vellum illuminated by an artist in the Circle of Giovanni Battista Castello, il Genovese [Genoa, c.1600]
3 in. diameter. 8 x 4 1/2 in. mounted and framed.
The miniature is attributable to an artist working in the close circle of Giovanni Battista Castello, called il Genovese (c.1548-1637) and so was produced in Genoa, probably around 1600. Castello was much in demand, chiefly as an illuminator: between 1583 and 1585 he was working in Spain for Philip II on choirbooks for the Escorial. Otherwise he seems mainly to have painted independent illuminated pictures, with the notable exception of a leaf from a Carthusian choirbook (Genoa, Galleria di Palazzo Bianco). In terms of palette and composition, the present miniature is especially close to an Adoration of the Magi sold at Christie’s South Kensington 9 July 2009 lot 538.
Sold with:
JOHN THE BAPTIST AND MARY MAGDALENE, historiated initials 'D' and 'N' cut from a choirbook on vellum [northern Italy, mid-14th century]
3 in. diameter. 8 x 4 1/2 in. mounted and framed.
The miniature is attributable to an artist working in the close circle of Giovanni Battista Castello, called il Genovese (c.1548-1637) and so was produced in Genoa, probably around 1600. Castello was much in demand, chiefly as an illuminator: between 1583 and 1585 he was working in Spain for Philip II on choirbooks for the Escorial. Otherwise he seems mainly to have painted independent illuminated pictures, with the notable exception of a leaf from a Carthusian choirbook (Genoa, Galleria di Palazzo Bianco). In terms of palette and composition, the present miniature is especially close to an Adoration of the Magi sold at Christie’s South Kensington 9 July 2009 lot 538.
Sold with:
JOHN THE BAPTIST AND MARY MAGDALENE, historiated initials 'D' and 'N' cut from a choirbook on vellum [northern Italy, mid-14th century]
Provenance
Giovanni Battista Castello: Private collection, New York, where acquired c. 1988 by Margot Gordon