Pier Dandini (Florence 1646 - Florence 1712) - Esther and Ahasuerus.

Pier Dandini (Florence 1646 - Florence 1712) - Esther and Ahasuerus. 117 x 146 cm (unframed) - 151 x 180 cm (framed). Oil on canvas, in a carved and gilt wood frame. Appraisals: Prof. Sandro Bellesi, Sesto Fiorentino (critical report attached). Pier Dandini is one of the most significant figures in late Baroque Florentine painting. Having trained in his uncle Vincenzo's workshop and refined his skills through stays in Venice and Rome, he became one of the most sought-after interpreters for Medici and patrician commissions from the mid-1670s onwards, active in decorating villas, palaces, and churches. His style is characterized by compositional elegance, refined color selection, and lively brushwork, drawing from the lessons of Ciro Ferri and the experiments of Livio Mehus, making him a precursor of Florentine Rocaille painting. The painting depicts the Old Testament episode of Esther's intercession with the Persian king Ahasuerus, taken from the Book of Esther. The queen, captured at the moment she faints into the arms of her handmaidens in the sovereign's presence, is rendered with the chromatic delicacy and compositional grace typical of the artist's maturity. The figure of Ahasuerus, in armor and crimson mantle, occupies the right side of the scene with an open gesture towards the queen, while a group of courtiers and figures in shadow animates the architectural background. The precious colors and enamel effects in the fabrics, by comparison with documented works such as the Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine of Siena in the Siena Cathedral (1679) and the Assumption of the Virgin and Saints in Santa Verdiana in Florence (1680), suggest a dating towards the late 1670s and early 1680s. The work, previously unpublished, constitutes a new acquisition to Pier Dandini's autograph catalogue, as attested by the appraisal of Prof. Sandro Bellesi. Condition report: Original canvas. Good condition of the painted surface, with some repairs and stitching. All shipments within the EU are free and professionally packed. This item is sold with a legally valid certificate of authenticity. Further details on the condition report are available upon request. Viezzi Arte guarantees quality and professionalism at competitive prices, contact us at [email protected] or via WhatsApp at +39 3402841279. Message to non-Italian buyers: This artwork has not yet obtained its certificate of free export from Italy, issued by the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage, which attests that the artwork does not belong to Italian cultural heritage and can therefore be exported freely. The regulation in force from 2026 provides for reduced times for works with a declared value of less than €50,000, established at the discretion of the commission of experts: on average 2-3 weeks from the submission of the request. All costs related to this procedure are included in the price. Disclaimer Rendering: The environmental images are AI-generated for illustrative purposes and may not respect the real proportions of the artwork.