Susanna and the Elders, Painter active in Rome in the early 17th century

Painter active in Rome in the early 17th century Susanna and the Elders oil on canvas 76 x 62 cm. - with frame 92 x 78 cm. Details of the work (click HERE) This valuable painting illustrates the titillating episode, taken from the Old Testament (Daniel, XIII), in which the virtuous Susanna, married daughter of a wealthy Jew, is surprised by two elderly men, recently elected judges, while bathing in the garden of her palace. Upon her refusal to yield to the elders' desires, they will accuse her of adultery with false charges, but will ultimately be unmasked for their defamatory lies. In this work, the painter adheres to the typical 16th-century Italian figurative culture, whereby the male figures are positioned on the opposite side of the young woman who, in her energetic and contorted stance, expresses modesty and dramatic fear, representing the division between righteousness and iniquity. In the portrait, Susanna is wrapped in a draped white cloth, a symbol of her purity: she knows she has not committed adultery, but her face nevertheless illustrates her fear of not being believed. The iconographic theme of 'Susanna and the Elders,' which apparently had moralistic intentions, became very fashionable in the Baroque period for its evident erotic undertones, duly masked by its biblical origin, and for the intrinsic exaltation of marital fidelity and chastity. The representation of Susanna caught semi-nude was therefore often a pretext to satisfy patrons' desire for depictions of the female nude. The stylistic characteristics and the heartfelt classicism with which the scene is conceived denote its execution by a capable artist active in Rome around the mid-17th century. This historical period, crucial for Italian painting, saw the papal city as an extraordinary crossroads of pictorial influences: on one hand, Lombard painters with a host of artists inspired by Caravaggio's naturalism, but also foreigners, Flemish, French, Spanish, such as Rubens, Poussin, or Ribera, and on the other hand, the Bolognese classicist painters, first and foremost Annibale Carracci, but also Domenichino and Reni, continuators of the great tradition of Raphael. It is therefore arduous to formulate a precise attribution, considering this extremely prolific and heterogeneous cultural environment: the structure of the composition, though revisited, actually recalls an invention by Annibale Carracci (https://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/stampe/schede/C0060-00345/), while if we focus on the individual figures, that of Susanna evokes the one conceived by Rubens (https://catalogo.beniculturali.it/detail/HistoricOrArtisticProperty/0800079030), whereas the two elders evoke Guido Reni's painting of the same subject (https://catalogo.beniculturali.it/detail/HistoricOrArtisticProperty/0800079030). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The work for sale is completed by a pleasant gilded frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and warranty. We take care of and organize the transport of purchased works, both within Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. It is also possible to view the painting at 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/