Still Life Representing A Large Bouquet Attributed To Andrea Belvedere

Still life representing a large bouquet with many flowers contained in a vase representing two men on horseback fighting with swords and resting on two impressive bird legs. At their feet, a gigantic cabbage leaf and an overturned basket containing cherries lie on the ground. In the background, we can see a storm and a landscape of ancient ruins. The painting is framed by a period gilded wooden frame. Attributed to Andrea Belvedere (1652-1732) Usual restorations, original frame, some restorations H. 178 x W. 124 cm (at sight) H. 200 x W. 146 cm (with frame) The 17th century is the golden century of Neapolitan painting. It is then a southern royalty placed under the Spanish government. Naples is the most populated city in Europe just after Paris. The patronage is very important then dominated by the viceroys, the aristocracy and the clergy. Creation is then very developed. This Neapolitan painting takes such a scale that it dominates Italy and even Europe. More precisely, Naples is one of the centers of still life. Andrea Belvédère is one of the most appreciated painters, but above all the last of the representatives of the Neapolitan tradition of still life. He worked in his native city in 1674. He was shaped by the circles of Paolo Porpora, by the first works of Giuseppe Recco, the work of Gian Battista Ruoppolo, influenced by the Flemish Abraham Brueghel who settled in Naples around 1671 , as well as two foreigners established in Rome Karel Von Vogelaer and Franz Werner Von Tamm. He became famous for his flower paintings. Between 1694 and 1700, he was sent to the court of Madrid where he worked for the royal family and the aristocracy. On his return, he almost abandoned painting and devoted himself to theater (playwright, decor, etc.). He is therefore the great specialist in flowers: he makes large paintings of flower vases, complex groups of compositions. It therefore emphasizes romanticism and addresses the early trend of Rococo rhythm. Nowadays, the works of Andrea Belvedere are kept in the Louvre, the Vatican Museum, the Prado Museum in particular.