Susanna and the Elders, Giovanni Segala (Venice 1663 - Murano 1720)

Giovanni Segala (Venice 1663 - Murano 1720) Susanna and the Elders oil on canvas 155 x 127 cm. - with frame 174 x 146 cm. This very delightful painting, of significant dimensions, illustrates the story of Susanna, narrated in the pages of the Old Testament (Daniel, XIII): the faithful wife of a rich Jew, she is molested while preparing to bathe in the garden of her palace by two vicious old judges who threaten to denounce her as unfaithful if she does not grant them her favors; the woman does not give in to blackmail and faces judgment for the false accusations of adultery; now close to stoning, she is saved by the prophet Daniel, behind whose intervention was hidden divine intervention, who will expose the two old men. We see here the moment when the two men appear behind the young, disheveled woman, in her posture of astonishment, as she tries to hide her nudity with her arm and a white cloth, alluding to her purity. The iconographic theme of 'Susanna and the Elders', which apparently had moralistic intentions, became very fashionable from the Baroque period onwards due to its evident erotic overtones, duly masked by its biblical origin, and for the intrinsic exaltation of marital fidelity and chastity. The representation of a semi-nude Susanna was therefore often a pretext to satisfy the patrons' desire for female nudes: the torsion of her body, painted as a nude but innocent celebration of pale and opulent flesh, is very beautiful here. The painting is a work by the Venetian painter Giovanni Segala (Venice 1663–1720), considered during his lifetime one of the leading exponents of Venetian painting at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries. With his light colors and his elegantly calm painting with large velvety surfaces, he was a proto-eighteenth-century precursor of Venetian painting: after an initial apprenticeship with Pietro Vecchia, his sources of inspiration were Antonio Bellucci and Gregorio Lazzarini. By the late 1980s, he had achieved such fame and prestige that he was commissioned by the Marquises Von Platen to decorate Linden Castle in Hanover, Germany, creating some works that can now be found in the Historisches Museum of the same city. The characteristics of the work, a perfect example of his style, allow us to place it in an advanced phase of his career, where he favored a delicate chromatic range based on clear and bright tones, as well as transparent hues and a soft luminosity. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The work for sale is completed by a pleasant frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and guarantee. We handle and organize the transport of purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. It is also possible to see the painting in our gallery in Riva del Garda; we will be happy to welcome you to show you our collection of works. Contact us, without obligation, for any additional information. Follow us also on: INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/