Francesco Battaglioli (Modena c. 1710 - Venice post 1796) - Architectural Capriccio with Figures.

Francesco Battaglioli (Modena c. 1710 - Venice post 1796) - Architectural Capriccio with Figures. 83.5 x 114.5 cm (without frame) - 98 x 130 cm (with frame). Oil on canvas, in a carved and gilded wooden frame. Provenance: Private collection, Friuli Venezia Giulia. Features a label with a previous attribution to Michele Marieschi (Venice 1710 - Venice 1744). Francesco Battaglioli is among the protagonists of architectural caprice painting in 18th-century Venice. Trained in Modena, where he was active as a theater set designer, he moved to Venice around the mid-century, immersing himself in that vein of fantastic vedutismo that found its main references in Giovanni Antonio Canal and Michele Marieschi. His work is distinguished by rigorous perspectival construction, a legacy of his stage design training, and by a diffuse, silvery light that traverses the architectures with a measured touch. The painting in question presents a typical composition from his mature repertoire: a Roman triumphal arch in the foreground on the right opens the view onto a landscape background with a medieval tower, scattered ruins, and a body of water stretching towards the background. The figures in 18th-century dress, distributed naturally along the visual path, recall the characteristic figures of Canaletto's tradition, rendered with quick and sure brushstrokes. The quality of the sky, with the central cloud fading into a light azure, and the perspectival construction of the arch find precise stylistic parallels with documented works by Battaglioli. The previous attribution to Michele Marieschi, attested by the label on the back, is understandable due to the commonality of subjects and setting, but the painting technique, softer and more atmospheric than Marieschi's more incisive brushwork, confidently attributes the canvas to Francesco Battaglioli. Condition report: Relined canvas. Good condition of the painted surface, with signs of aging and wear. All shipments in 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 work has not yet obtained the certificate of free export from Italy, issued by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, which attests that the work does not belong to the Italian cultural heritage and can therefore be freely exported. Current regulations from 2026 provide for reduced times for works with a declared value below €50,000, established at the discretion of the expert committee: on average 2-3 weeks from sending the request. All costs related to this procedure are included in the price. Disclaimer Rendering: The setting images are generated with AI for illustrative purposes and may not respect the actual proportions of the artwork.