Susanna And The Old Men, Giovanni Segala (venice 1663 – Murano 1720)

Giovanni Segala (Venice 1663 – Murano 1720)
Susanna and the Elders

oil on canvas
155 x 127 cm.
with frame 174 x 146 cm.

Complete details of the work (click on the following LINK )

This delightful, large-scale painting depicts the story of Susanna, as told in the Old Testament (Daniel, Chapter 13): the faithful wife of a wealthy Jew, is harassed while preparing to bathe in the garden of her palace by two depraved elderly judges who threaten to accuse her of adultery if she does not grant them her favors;

The woman does not yield to the blackmail and faces trial on false charges of adultery; as she is about to be stoned, she is saved by the prophet Daniel, whose intervention was guided by divine intervention, which will expose the two old men as liars.

Here we see the moment when the two men appear behind the scantily clad young woman, who stands in a posture of astonishment as she tries to cover her nakedness with her arm and a white cloth, alluding to her purity.

The iconographic theme of “Susanna and the Elders,” which ostensibly had moralistic intentions, became very fashionable starting in the Baroque period due to its obvious erotic undertones, duly masked by its biblical origin, and for its intrinsic celebration of marital fidelity and chastity.

The depiction of a semi-nude Susanna was therefore often a pretext for satisfying patrons’ desire for female nude subjects: the twist her body takes on here is beautiful, painted as a naked yet innocent celebration of fair and opulent flesh.

The painting is the work of the Venetian painter Giovanni Segala (Venice 1663–1720), considered during his lifetime one of the leading figures of Venetian painting at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries.

With his light colors and his elegantly subdued style featuring broad, velvety surfaces, he was an early 18th-century precursor of Venetian painting: after initially studying under Pietro Vecchia, his sources of inspiration were Antonio Bellucci and Gregorio Lazzarini.

By the late 1680s, he had attained such fame and prestige that he was commissioned by the Marquises von Platen to decorate Linden Castle in Hanover, Germany, creating several works that are now housed in the city’s Historisches Museum.

The characteristics of this work, a perfect example of his style, allow us to date it to a later phase of his career, when he favored a delicate color palette based on light and luminous tones, as well as transparent hues and a soft luminosity.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The sold artwork is framed in an attractive frame and comes with a certificate of authenticity and warranty.

We handle and arrange shipping for purchased works, both within Italy and internationally, using professional, insured carriers. It is also possible to view the painting at our gallery in Riva del Garda; we would be delighted to welcome you and show you our collection of artworks.

Please feel free to contact us, with no obligation, for any additional information.

Follow us on:
INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/