Jacques Courtois detto Il Borgognone (1621-1676), Circle of - Battaglia

Important ancient collectible painting
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Jacques Courtois The Burgundian (1621-1676) Scope
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Battle
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Oil on panel 1660/1700
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Oil on a table, depicting a battle scene in an exceptional contemporary frame, measurements: 65 x 57 cm.
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Battle / Oil on board
42 x 34 cm
1660/1700
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Dated around the mid-17th century / early 18th century, the battle scene under examination displays a fine quality of execution, with a refined pictorial style and excellent drawing practice. These characteristics lead us to attribute it to Courtois, primarily appreciating the aesthetic prerogatives. The effort with which the artist depicted the garments and armor, the care in distributing the chromatic palette, and consequently, the narrative development of the scene are stylistic features belonging to the famous French-born but adopted Roman artist. The attention to detail, a prerogative of Northern culture, here blends naturally with the Baroque compositional structure inspired by Salvator Rosa, thus combining a distinctly Italian pictorial taste with a manner that signifies the modern evolution of the battle genre and that will influence its active interpreters at the end of the 17th century and during the early decades of the 18th century. A characteristic feature of this scene is the depiction of the combat in the foreground, described with realism and careful staging, highlighting the vortex of violence reaching its peak at the center of the canvas, with the knight delivering sword blows, in a surprisingly realistic tone. The artist becomes the creator of a new style, heroic and grandiose, accompanied by the ability to represent atmospheric phenomena, an aspect also noted by Baldinucci, who in 1675 recalled, '. . . but those that could not yet be painted—such as thunder, lightning, flashes, smoke, fires, air, fog, and others similar to these. . . Borgognone painted them wonderfully. . . '}
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Reference bibliography:
G. Sestieri, The Battle Painters. Italian and foreign masters of the 17th and 18th centuries, Rome 1999.
pages 154-205
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Nicknamed the Burgundian of battles, he came from the French region of Franche-Comté, which at the time belonged to Spain. He received his first painting lessons from his father Jean Courtois.
In 1636 in Milan, he enlisted in the Spanish army and remained there until 1639; then, having a strong aptitude for painting, he began to paint, changing masters as he moved from city to city.
He studied in Bologna with Jérome Colomès, worked with Guido Reni and Francesco Albani, and in Florence with Jan Asselyn, a Dutch painter specializing in battle scenes.
He painted works of various kinds in Verona, Florence, and Venice.
Arriving in Rome in 1640, he had the opportunity to see in the Vatican the "Battle of Constantine," painted by Giulio Romano. This work, which he liked very much, and the years spent in the service of the Spanish army led him to specialize in the genre of battles, becoming famous for his way of expressing himself and coloring "surprisingly true. "
He later moved to Siena, where he married in 1647 the daughter of a Florentine painter, of whom he was very jealous. After her sudden death in 1654, he was accused of poisoning her. Therefore, he withdrew to the Fathers of the Society of Jesus and later became a Jesuit.
Returned to Rome, he lived in the novitiate of St. Andrew at Monte Cavallo and at the House of the Jesuits. One of the first achievements of this period was the series of six battles "won through the intercession of the Virgin Mary" which are located in the main Chapel of the Collegio Romano. He also contributed to the mural decoration of the corridors of the apartments of St. Ignatius (the Jesuit residence) .
He also established a school: the French painter Joseph Parrocel was his student.
In 1672, at the request of the Superior General, he prepared sketches for the decoration of the apse of the Church of Jesus, but he was unable to complete the work due to the decline of his health. He died in Rome on November 14, 1676.
Even Brother Guglielmo (Guillaume Courtois) was a painter of good repute.
Today, the works of Jacques Courtois can be found in the world's major museums: the Louvre in Paris, the Uffizi Gallery and Pitti Palace in Florence, the Prado in Madrid, the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, etc.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini thus commented: "Among the painters of that time in Europe, no one has equaled Courtois in the graphic expression of the horror of battle" (Salvagnini, F. A. , The Burgundian Painters, Cortese, Rome, 1937, p. 185) .
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Work subjected to verification and assessment by a professional restorer, non-invasive diagnostic examination. The work shows overpainting and pictorial retouches.
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The frame shown in the photo will be sent as a courtesy, as a gift.
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Ideal for collecting and investment
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With a legally compliant certificate of authenticity - Expertise
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Professional packaging and insured shipping
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For reasons of historical interest, the work cannot be shipped to Switzerland and outside Europe - Free movement within Italy and Europe.
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