standing between Venus’ knees – a motif with erotic connotations – is holding an earring between his fingers and is looking to the left with a quizzical and expectant expression. His weapons, the bow and quiver, are placed on the floor ready for action. The evening sky visible through the window on the top left suggests that the scene is an evening ambience, the time in which Venus and Cupid are supposed to begin their assignment. A little male amoretto is reaching through the window into the interior to take flowers from a gilt vase – gifts associated with love. The blue colour of the bluebells signifies as a symbol for the initial infatuation leading to fidelity. The scene is lit by an unidentified light source from the top left and especially illuminates the naked parts of the bodies of the figures of the girls or the three graces, while the background is deliberately kept darker. This is to be perceived as a final homage to the chiaroscuro of Caravaggism. The bold, almost Titianlike pink of Venus’ cloak indicates the grandeur and majesty of the goddess and is also the love goddess’ attribute colour red. In contrast with paintings of saints or religious subjects, Reni here had the opportunity to depict nudity of the female body in all its imaginable grace and beauty as is the case in only a few other known works by him; one need only think of his famous The Rape of Europa, for instance, where Europa is being abducted by the bull, but still dressed apart from her chest area (1637-39, National Gallery London). The mastery in the painting on offer for sale in this lot is not only obvious in the charming depiction of the ladies’ faces but also in their soft, flowing postures. Notes: The painting has been documented by several expert reports and surveys by notable Reni researchers. Professor Emiliani from Bologna notes in his letter dated 8 October 2012 that Reni created two versions of The Toilet of Venus subject. One of them is held at the National Gallery in London. The second version from a private collection is on offer for sale in this lot. Emiliani notes that research carried out regarding the London painting revealed that only approximately 20% of the painting were created by Reni himself, whereas 90% of the painting on offer for sale in this lot were created by his own hand with less collaboration by his assistant. He also notes that the present version is the first one to have been created. In the London painting possibly only the figure of Venus was created by Reni himself while the remainder was created by his studio and is hence listed as “studio of Reni” there. For the experts, the stylistic analysis shows that the London painting was created in collaboration with Francesco Gessi and Mahon shares this view. The report by Professor Emiliani, chairman of the Academia Clementina Bologna and Professor Raffaella Morselli (University of Teramo) concludes that the present painting is a “masterpiece (by Reni), that can be regarded as one of the most important paintings of non-religious content of his entire career…”. Provenance: Duke Gonzaga of Mantua Collection. The painting was commissioned by Ferdinando Gonzaga, the Duke of Mantua. The Duke’s collection comprised works by Domenichino, Guercino, Garbieri and Tiarini purchased in the early 17th century and was boosted by acquiring an artwork by the “divine Reni”. Although the painting is not listed in the collection’s inventory of 1627, it is listed in the purchase list of the Duke’s paintings by Daniel Nys, dated 27 March 1627 where it is described as The Three Graces (Luzio, pp. 139 ff.) valued at the time at 300 Scudi, and valued at 400 Scudi in April of the same year. Due to this evaluation the painting was probably transported to England during the course of that same year. It is not listed in a catalogue prepared by Van der Doort for King Charles I (1639) but it is already included in a list for Somerset House dated October 1951 with the title “Venus sitting to be dressed by the Three Graces. Guido. Bullones”. Further sources (Malvasia, Felsina Pittrice, 1678 and 1841) report that after Reni returned to Bologna he worked on a “Venus” for Count Tobia Rossellini of Naples free of charge as the Count was hosting him and his assistant Francesco Gessi in his house. It is likely that both versions of the “Venus” were held at Reni’s workshop in Bologna, one created for the Duke of Mantua, the other for Rossellini. Subsequently Reni worked on other an tique subjects such as the Hercules legend or Nessus and Deianira etc. Penney collection, New York. Heirs to Penney collection, New York. Private collection, New York. Private collection. Exhibitions: Tiziano – Vanitas. The Poet of the Image and the Shade of Beauty, Imperial Stables of Prague Castle, 15 December 2015 – 20 March 2016. Literature: S. Lapenta, R. Morselli, Le Collezioni Gonzaga, La Quadreria nell´Elenco dei beni del 1626-1627, p. 99, 2006, Centro Internazionale d’Arte e di Cultura di Palazzo Te, Mantova. L. Puppi, S. Baccaglini, Tiziano – Vanitas. The Poet of the Image and the Shade of Beauty, exhibition catalogue, p. 32, ill. p. 31, Milan, 2016. € 1.500.000 - € 2.500.000 Sistrix INFO | BIETEN All texts can be translated into your own language on our homepage via Google: www.hampel-auctions.com 53
607 Gabriel Franck, 1590 - 1639 DIE
All texts can be translated into yo
tions.com 610 Christoffel Pierson,
612 Théobald Michau, 1676 Tournae
613 Joris van Son, 1623 - 1667 KRAB
615 Alexander Keirincx, 1600 Antwer
617 Peter Paul Rubens, 1577 Siegen
Details tions.com 122 For around 6,
618 Frans Pourbus d. J., 1569 Antwe
620 Pieter Meulener, 1602 Antwerpen
622 Jacob Bouttats, 1660 - 1718, zu
All texts can be translated into yo
624 Jan van Kessel d. Ä., um 1626
626 Italienischer Maler des 16. Jah
628 Nicolas Poussin, 1594 Villers -
630 Bernardo Strozzi, 1581 Genua -
632 Bernardo Canal, 1674 Venedig -
634 Alexander Keirincx, 1600 Antwer
637 Joos de Moomper, 1564 - 1635 un
638 Roelof Koets d. J., um 1655 - 1
639 Niederländischer Meister des 1
640 Abraham Hendricksz van Beyeren,
642 Mattia Preti, 1613 Taverna/ Cat
643 Guido Reni, 1575 Bologna - 1642
All texts can be translated into yo
less known than the famous painters
646 Italienischer Maler des 18. Jah
647 Claude Louis Châtelet, 1753 Pa
649 Pierre Nicolas Huillot, 1674 Pa
651 Egbert van Heemskerck d. J., 16
653 Albertus van der Burch, 1672 De
655 Maximilian Pfeiler, tätig 1683
All texts can be translated into yo
All texts can be translated into yo
660 Flämischer Meister des 18. Jah
tions.com 192 For around 6,500 addi
663 Charles François Lacroix de Ma
All texts can be translated into yo
All texts can be translated into yo
All texts can be translated into yo
670 Mario Nuzzi, genannt „Mario d
672 Jan Cossiers, 1600 Antwerpen -
674 Lucas Cranach d. Ä., 1472 - 15
675 Jan van de Hecke d. Ä., 1620 Q
677 Pieter Claesz, 1596/ 98 - 1660/
678 Jacob Gerritsz Cuyp, 1594 Dordr
All texts can be translated into yo
681 Italienischer Maler des 17./ 18
682 Deutscher Schlachtenmaler des 1
All texts can be translated into yo
686 Lucas Gassel, um 1500 Helmond -
All texts can be translated into yo
690 Bologneser Maler des 17. Jahrhu
692 Stephan Kessler, 1622 Donauwör
694 Paolo Gerolamo Piola, 1666 Genu
695 Maler der lombardisch-veneziani
699 Cornelis Dusart, 1660 - 1704, z
702 Willem van Herp, 1614 Antwerpen
704 David de Coninck, um 1636 Antwe
tions.com 706 Francesco Fidanza, 17
708 Flämischer Meister des 17. Jah
709 Antonio Gianlisi d.J., 1677 Riz
711 Giacinto Brandi, 1621/ 23 Poli
713 Venezianischer Maler des 17. Ja
715 Floris Gerritsz van Schooten, 1
717 Stilllebenmaler der Hanauer Sch
719 Holländischer Meister der Mitt
721 Jacob Ferdinand Saeys, 1658 Ant
723 Joos van Cleve, 1485 - 1540, Na
725 Andrea Locatelli, 1695 Rom - 17
727 Venezianischer Maler des 18. Ja
729 Tommaso Ruiz, tätig 1710 - 175
730 Aert van der Neer d. Ä., 1603
731 Karel Breydel, genannt „Le Ch
732 Jan Jansz. Buesem, um 1600 - um
734 Giovanni Andrea Donducci il Mas
735 Italienischer Maler des 17. Jah
738 Hofmaler des 18. Jahrhunderts,
741 Frans Ykens, um 1601 Antwerpen
742 Peeter Gysels, 1621 - 1690/91 N
tions.com 298 For around 6,500 addi
744 Ilario Mercanti Spolverini, 165
Detailabbildungen stark vergrößer
749 Henri Gascar, auch „Gascard
751 Samuel Massé, 1672 Tours - 175
753 Deutscher Maler des 18. Jahrhun
757 Franz Werner von Tamm, 1658 Ham
760 Italienischer Maler des 18. Jah
CONTINUE WITH PAGE FLIP CATALOGUE I
Laden...
Laden...
Laden...
HAMPEL Fine Art Auctions Munich
Schellingstr. 44 | 80799 München
Telefon +49 (0)89 / 28 804-0
office@hampel-auctions.com