Giovanni Battista Piazzetta (1683–1754)

Italian School of the 18th Century Scope of Giovanni Battista Piazzetta (1683–1754) “Studio di testa di santo in contemplazione” Oil on canvas Golden wooden frame Inscription «LK 1880» on the back Measurements: 43,x 28 cm in frame 28 x 23 cm canvas Description The small painting depicts a half-length portrait of an elderly male figure, shown almost in profile with the head raised high. The gaze turned upward, the slightly parted lips, and the tension in the face give the figure an intense expression of spiritual trance and contemplation. The long gray-blonde beard is built with soft brushstrokes and progressive highlights, while the face emerges from the green-brown background through concentrated light on the forehead, the brow arch, the nose, and the cheekbone. The dark attire, almost entirely absorbed by shadow, further enhances the lighting effect on the head. The absence of specific attributes does not allow for a certain identification of the figure. The bearded elderly appearance and the ecstatic posture, however, permit an interpretation as a head of an apostle or saint, probably intended as an autonomous devotional image. Attribution considerations Giovanni Battista Piazzetta and his Venetian circle: Piazzetta developed a vast repertoire of character heads, apostles, saints, and strongly foreshortened male figures, built with intense chiaroscuro contrasts and psychologically accentuated postures. There is also documented a series of Apostle heads conceived by Piazzetta and translated into an engraving by Marco Pitteri in 1742. The comparison becomes particularly interesting because Piazzetta studies of bearded men and upwards-facing heads are documented. The Städel Museum, for example, preserves a Head of a Man Looking Up, classified in Piazzetta’s circle, perhaps Giuseppe Angeli; the museum emphasizes the need to distinguish the master’s hand from works produced in his milieu. The National Gallery of Art also preserves Piazzetta studies of saints from the 1730s-1740s, in which the close cropping of the figure, the strong profile characterization, and the monumental head-setting recur. Condition Report The work presents in fair/good overall state of conservation, compatible with its age and with the conservation history it has undergone over time. The paint surface appears generally stable and preserves good legibility of the subject. There are slight abrasions, small surface irregularities, and minor losses or local flaking, more perceptible in the dark areas. The surface varnish appears slightly altered and uneven, with deposits and surface dirt; prior cleaning and retouching interventions are likely. Relined. Overall conditions: signs of time and defects consistent with the period of the work With certificate of sale and lawful provenance Note regarding the frame: The frame is provided free of charge as a gift, and therefore does not contribute to determining the artwork’s monetary value. Given the nature, age, and particular delicacy of the frame, during transport there could be minor cracks, detachments, abrasions, or material losses. Any damage to the frame during shipping cannot be a basis for dispute, refund, or compensation, as the sale concerns solely the painted work.

Estimación:€700

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