Oil On Canvas "holy Family With The Infant Saint John And Saints" Naples, 18th Century

The painting likely originates from the workshop of the painter Francesco Solimena (1657–1747). The canvas displays several elements that hark back to the great Neapolitan Baroque era of the 18th century, a period in which Solimena was the absolute point of reference: The Management of Light and Chiaroscuro: The Virgin's face, reclining and in shadow, and the sculptural rendering of the children's bodies reflect the typical classicist purism and softness that Solimena imposed after his anti-Giordanosque turn. However, the contrasts here appear more muted, veering toward an almost Arcadian or advanced late-Baroque sensibility. The idealized profile, the Virgin's straight, thin nose, as well as the anatomical conformation of the cherubs in the sky, closely recall Solimena's models found in countless altarpieces and interior paintings from his very active workshop. We find the typical Neapolitan palette of the period: the intense blue of the Virgin's cloak, the dull pinks/purples of the dress, the earthy and ochre highlights of the saints' cloaks, and the bluish-gray background of the clouds. Some executive details visible in the foreground (for example, the details of the hands and the paint application of the cloaks) suggest that it may be the work of an excellent painter from the circle, a direct pupil, or a follower of the mid-18th century. The brushstrokes in some places appear softer and less rigorously academic than the master's autograph masterpieces, sometimes resembling the style of Corrado Giaquinto (for the vaporousness of the clouds and the lightness of the putti) or Lorenzo De Caro. The painting is therefore of excellent quality but is more attributable to a workshop work than to the work of the master Solimena. The painting is in good condition. The painting is housed in a beautiful non-antique-style box frame, with an internal band richly gilded with leaves and carved with leafy and beaded motifs, protected by a dark external molding. The style of the frame perfectly enhances the painting's period character. Measurements with the frame are 77 cm by 64 cm and the canvas alone are 64 cm by 50 cm.