Genoese school of the 1600s
Entouragr by Domenico Piola (Genoa 1627-1703)
Oil painting on canvas
Canvas size 75 x 60 frame 90 x 75
Très bon état
This charming scene of love depicts the courtship from a putto to his mischievous and complacent companion. The little boy turns his gaze to her and offers her a floral tribute with his raised right hand. She, already surrounded by a rich garland of flowers on her hips and a crown on her head, looks at him with a naive and intriguing air. The painting is particularly seductive and offers a pleasant view to the viewer, inevitably involved in the message of love transmitted by the two innocent creatures. The splendid colors of the tunics, he in bright blue and she in soft pink, contrast with the naked bodies created with an extraordinary volumetric effect thanks to a perfect application of shades. The Genoese school of the 17th century, which considered Piola as one of the main representatives, was considered unrivaled in the representations of cherubs, little angels and cherubim. The churches and palaces of the Ligurian territory are full of paintings and frescoes on these subjects. In fact, the work is certainly an excellent interpretation of the Genoese Baroque, which rarely detaches itself from religious subjects to offer us these tasty scenes with frivolous and libertine outlines.