A Mediteranean Moonlit Bay, Italy 18th Century; Studio Of Leonardo Coccorante (1680–1750)

A stunning and highly refined capriccio of a Mediteranean harbour with figures conversing in the foreground. Coccorante was among the most extravagantly talented 18th century Italian painters. This large, highly atmospheric capriccio ‘veduta ideata’ features ancient classical ruins with local denizens conversing and pursuing their business, before a harbour with shipping. The scene is magnificently swathed in a twilight that is fully characteristic of Leonardo Coccorante’s work. The artist often used small figures to portray the expansiveness of the architecture and scene. The combination of the classical ruins with figures before a marine background, was a combination that proved highly successful for the artist and he produced many works using this theme. For a painter of such celerity, Coccorante first learned his craft from an artist with all the time in the world. Angelo Maria Costa (1670-1721), an accomplished Sicilian painter of ruins, found himself in a Neapolitan prison awaiting execution for burglary. This is when he and Coccorante, a jailer’s assistant, first met. An art loving official intervened to spare Costa. There are multiple formal and compositional similarities in the works of the two artists. He also studied with Jan Frans van Bloemen (1662–1749) and with Gabriele Ricciardelli (act. 1741-1777). From 1737 – 1739, Coccorante worked in the court of Charles VII of Naples, and his projects included the decoration of the royal palace on the occasion of the betrothal of Charles III of Spain, King of the Two Sicilies, and Marie-Amelia of Saxony. The painting was formally part of the Hassler Collection as per a label on verso (Hassler Collection Nr 3) which was a renowned 19th century collection initiated by Konrad Dietrich Hassler (born 1803 in Ulm, Germany). Hassler was a curator in Wuerttemberg and was influential with the preservation of the arts. In 1867, he was appointed head of the National Collection for Patriotic Art and Antiquity. Held in a fine gilt ‘cassetta’ type frame. Provenance: Collection of Mary von Toler, The Hassler Collection (according to label on verso) Measurements: Height 79cm, Width 110cm framed (Height 31”, Width 43.25” framed)