Portrait Of A Philosopher Holding A Book, Circle Of Mattia Preti (1613-1699)

Portrait of an erudite old man, his hand resting on a book, he doubts, reflects, his head bowed, his forehead worried. Time has passed, the man questions life, existence; all these themes so dear to the Neapolitan school of which Mattia Preti or José de Ribera are the masters. The play of chiaroscuro is here superbly expressed by certainly a disciple of Mattia Preti (1613 - 1699) who with a certain talent expresses the feelings of this old man. Born in Taverna, a region of Calabria, he stayed in Rome then in Naples to become one of the great masters of the city; then became the official painter of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem in Valletta, Malta until his death in 1699. Related works: Saint Paul with raised eyes, Valletta Museum, Malta. God the Father, Church of Saint Dominic, Taverne (Calabria) around 1672. Dimensions with frame: 80 cm x 67.3 cm. Without frame: 67.8 cm x 56.7 cm.