Antonio Tibaldi (Rome, c. 1633 - c. 1684), Still life with precious objects, brocade fabrics, and a plate of sweets

Antonio Tibaldi (Rome, c. 1633 - c. 1684) Still life with precious objects, brocade fabrics, and a plate of sweets c. 1650/1660 Oil on canvas (96 x 130 cm - In frame 115 x 150 cm.) For further information on the author, consult the essay: 'Still life painters in Rome. Italian artists, 1630-1750' - Gianluca and Ulisse Bocchi - 2005 Complete details of the work (click HERE) This prestigious still life, with an incredible scenic effect, depicts an opulent display of precious objects, including vases, ewers, and plates in precious metals, a stringed musical instrument, specifically a guitar, a cushion, and an elegant fabric embroidered with gold threads, while on the right a precious curtain, also in damask, opens up the scene as if it were a theatrical curtain. The large dimensions of the canvas fall within the typically Roman format of the so-called 'canvas of the emperor,' a Baroque definition used to describe canvases around 130 x 90 cm. The painting is a work by the Roman painter Antonio Tibaldi, whose compositions were highly successful in Baroque Rome, thanks to his particular attention to the rendering of the precious details of the objects depicted, which make each of his works particularly valuable and elegant. He worked contemporaneously with Carlo Manieri, with whom he partly shared compositional approaches, but while the latter lingered on the description of elaborate architectural structures, Tibaldi showed a more pronounced tendency towards filling the pictorial space and backgrounds closed off by heavy draperies, following the fashion set by Francesco Maltese. As a comparison, to support our attribution, it is easy to mention the two 'Still lifes with brocades and goldsmith's objects' preserved at the Musée Fesch in Ajaccio, France (fig. 1 - https://www.musee-fesch.com/tag/antonio-tibaldi), commissioned around 1650 in Rome by Cardinal Fesch, which have more than one element in common with the canvas presented here. Also, the pair of 'Still lifes with casket, sweets, and precious objects,' correctly attributed to Tibaldi and sold on the Milanese antique market in 1987 (fig. 2 - Finarte, Milan, May 6-7, 1987, lots 246 and 247, as F. Fieravino) are almost analogous to ours. In one of the two canvases, on the important chased casket, there is the heraldic emblem with three bees, attesting to a commission from the Barberini family. This demonstrates that Antonio Tibaldi enjoyed considerable esteem among the Roman aristocracy, who were particularly fond of these pompous representations, working for the most powerful Roman families: among his most influential patrons, in addition to the Barberini (Pope Urban VIII), we know there were also the Chigi (Pope Alexander VII) and the Colonna. Our painting also features a coat of arms, although difficult to interpret (near the base band of the gilded metal chased vase) with a rampant lion in an oval shield surmounted by a crown. Tibaldi's artistic production is characterized by a series of recurring motifs, which we also find in our work: among these is the tendency to fill the pictorial space as much as possible by placing carpets or damask fabrics on stone tables decorated with Renaissance-inspired motifs. But also the typical sugared sweets, here arranged on a silver plate: these are biscuits and candied fruits that Tibaldi rendered in a completely personal and characteristic way, giving them the impression of a 'spongy' consistency. We can find the same sweets, in addition to the works mentioned above, in the 'Still life with carpet, plate of candied citrus fruits, and sweets...' that was sold at Christie's in London (fig. 3 - December 8-9, 1994, no. 379) https://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/scheda/opera/88018/ . ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The work for sale is complete with a pleasant frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and guarantee. We handle 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 would be pleased 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/