Francesco Solimena (1657 - 1747) [Cerchia di] - Transito di San Giuseppe

\Artist: Francesco Solimena (1657 - 1747) [Cerchia di]
Technique: olio su tela, cm. 31 x 24,5\Signature: Not signed\Dimensions: 70_12_60_cm
FRANCESCO SOLIMENA [Circle of] (Canale di Serino, 1657 - Naples, 1747) Transit of San Giuseppe Oil on canvas, cm. 31 x 24. 5 Frame size, cm. 57 x 50. 5 x 6 approx. NOTES: Unsigned work. Certificate of Guarantee and Lawful Origin. Work with gilded baroque openwork frame: ". . . The work, in fairly good condition, illustrates an episode that sees the death of St. Joseph as protagonists; Christian story reported in an apocryphal biography that narrates how the serene passing of Jesus' putative father, as well as Mary's earthly husband, took place at the ripe old age of one hundred and eleven. For this reason, according to tradition, Joseph is depicted as a man of a very advanced age with white hair and beard, while he is peacefully lying on his bed waiting to expire, comforted by the supernatural presence of the Savior, the Madonna and some disciples of Christ. Particularly noteworthy are both the reassuring appearance of the beautiful angel inside, and that of Dion the father in glory of cherubs on the left: these are two enjoyable pictorial passages that have the function of lightening the drama of the scene and above all, of bring it back to a supernatural dimension contiguous to the earthly one, testified by the humble bed on which the saint lies, to remind devotees of the coexistence of the two aspects, divine and earthly, in the exemplary life of the putative father of Jesus. of the canvas in question, it shows its belonging to the best figurative culture of central Italy of the first half of the seventeenth century. This image refers to the original versions of this sketch painted by the artist Francesco Solimena (Canale di Serino, 1657 - Naples, 1747) . Although the great painter never moved from Naples except for a short trip to Rome in 1701, he achieved vast fame and consensus that does not seem to fade with the passage of time: works he executed are now preserved in the most prestigious museums and collections. private individuals from all over the world. In his long career he transformed his atelier into a real academy from which numerous and well-known artists came out. The composition is centered on the narration of Joseph's "passing away" (extensively narrated in the Story of Joseph the carpenter, apocryphal of the 4th or 5th century, of which the Coptic, Armenian and Arabic versions are received) , according to which Joseph died at the age of 111 in the most serene way possible, surrounded by the love of the people who were dearest to him: Jesus and Mary. The canvas, in fact, places Joseph lying in bed, next to the Virgin, present here in the center, and Jesus on the left. The angel and the cherubs are also present. The composition and coloring of the sketch do not differ substantially from the original works of Solimena, the work has some customizations both on the composition and on the format compared to the known work, and therefore constitutes an original invention to be attributed - with due caution - in the hand of a valid artist active in the circle or pupil of the Neapolitan master, adapted to the personal taste of the client to whom it was intended, and not a simple copy of a famous composition. Regarding its state of conservation, the canvas is in a fairly conservative state. The pictorial surface is presented in patina. You can see - in Wood's light - some scattered restorations, especially at the top right and one at the bottom under the feet of the Saint. There are also some unveiling and oxidation of the pictorial surface. A crackle is visible in sunlight compared to the time. The painting - with a good pictorial hand - is very interesting both for its iconographic setting and for the drafting of the colors, synonymous with an artist of great interpretative quality, and for this reason, the painting may need for further study of attribution. . The canvas probably - in the past - was relined. The measures of the canvas are cm. 31 x 24. 5. The painting is sold with a beautiful gilded baroque openwork frame (dimensions approx. 57 x 50. 5 x 6 cm) . ORIGIN: Coll. private PUBLICATION: Unpublished; MYTHS AND THE TERRITORY in Sicily with a thousand cultures. UNPUBLISHED QUADRERIA general catalog of the paintings in the collection of the “Myths and the territory” cycle, Ed. , Publisher Lab_04, Marsala, (in print, 2022) . We also guarantee accurate packaging with external wooden crate and bubble wrap / cardboard / internal polystyrene (packaging cost approximately € 100. 00) and tracked shipping (€ 100. 00 Italy) . For export, the work is subject to a request for a Certificate of Free Movement (European Community) or Certificate of Export (Extra-Community Transport) , at the export office (Superintendency of the territory) with the times and costs incurred ( € 350 / € 800, all included: shipping, packaging and particular exports) . The shipment may be delayed by a few days / week for logistical and administrative reasons.