Property from a Distinguished Italian Collection
Lombard School, 17th century
Portrait of a man, half-length, wearing a red coat with fur collar
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Property from a Distinguished Italian Collection
Lombard School, 17th century
Portrait of a man, half-length, wearing a red coat with fur collar
oil on canvas, oval, in a carved and giltwood Genoese frame, probably late 17th century
unframed: 88 x 65.5 cm.; 34⅝ x 25¾ in.
framed: 121 x 100 cm.; 47⅝ x 39⅜ in.
In the collection of the family of the present owner since at least 1980.
This alluring portrait is presented in a magnificent Genoese frame, likely dating to the late 17th century. Octagonal in shape, its flamboyant and intricate design is primarily composed of eight pairs of marine creatures, most probably dolphins, seemingly radiating out of the canvas, taking an S-scrolled form, their tails almost curving under the sight edge of the frame and terminating in acanthus leaves. Between each pair of dolphins, additional carved acanthus scrolls converge at the centre to form grotesque, almost birdlike masks, enhancing the dramatic impact of the frame.
As it is often the case with Italian frames, such elaborate carvings may be representative of the sitter's stemma (family crest); for example in the Berniniesque frame surrounding the Portrait of Alexander VII by Giovanni Maria Morandi (1622–1717) features seven oak tress, the stemma of the Della Rovere family.1 Whether this is also the case of the present work remains a mystery and warrants further investigation. However, it is unlikely that the frame is original to the painting. Moreover, the construction technique of the frame is rather unusual: it appears to be hollowed at the back, suggesting it may have originally served to house a three-dimensional object, possibly a stone relief or pietra dura panel, rather than a canvas.
We are grateful to all those consulted for their views.
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