.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The present composition is the bozzetto for an Annunciation by Francesco Solimena (with Matthiesen Fine Art Ltd., London, by 1986 - fig. 1) published by Professor Ugo Ruggeri, 'Solimena e Venezia: qualche appunto', in V. de Martini - A. Braca - et al., Angelo e Francesco Solimena, due culture a confronto. Atti del convegno di Nocera Inferiore, 17-18 Novembre 1990, Naples, 1994, pp. 235-53, illustrated. In his essay, Professor Ruggeri dates the painting circa 1681-4 and notes that it is 'una premessa essenziale [...] per la complessa carriera iniziale del Tiepolo'.
In these years, Solimena had been commissioned to paint a group of works for the church of the Gesù delle Monache in Naples. He increasingly employed dramatic chiaroscuro effects, causing him, especially in the later work, to emphasize the foreground figures, who stand out clearly against an architectural background that is painted in steep perspective and enveloped in a murky atmosphere pierced by strong shafts of light. In these early works, such as the present composition, he shows that his style perfectly unites the influences of Preti and Giordano.
We are grateful to Professor Riccardo Lattuada for confirming the attribution to Francesco Solimena on the basis of a color transparency (written communication, 14 March 2005).
In these years, Solimena had been commissioned to paint a group of works for the church of the Gesù delle Monache in Naples. He increasingly employed dramatic chiaroscuro effects, causing him, especially in the later work, to emphasize the foreground figures, who stand out clearly against an architectural background that is painted in steep perspective and enveloped in a murky atmosphere pierced by strong shafts of light. In these early works, such as the present composition, he shows that his style perfectly unites the influences of Preti and Giordano.
We are grateful to Professor Riccardo Lattuada for confirming the attribution to Francesco Solimena on the basis of a color transparency (written communication, 14 March 2005).