Carnival in Rome in Piazza Navona, Michelangelo Cerquozzi (Rome 1602 – 1660) workshop

Carnival Scene in 17th Century Rome (in Piazza Navona) Roman School of the "Bamboccianti" (mid-17th century) - workshop of Michelangelo Cerquozzi (Rome 1602 – Rome 1660) Oil on canvas 74 x 96 cm. - Framed 88 x 110 cm. Full work details (click HERE) Set against the backdrop of a large square crowded with masked and costumed figures, the painting depicts a scene of jubilation during the Carnival celebrations in Rome in the 17th century, thus serving as a very interesting testament to the customs of the era. The painting is set in Piazza Navona; a recognizable detail on the right is Bernini's famous Fountain of the Four Rivers, topped by the sixteen-meter-high Agonal Obelisk, originally located in the Circus of Maxentius on the Appian Way. A city event with ancient origins – inspired by the Roman Saturnalia, where slaves were elevated to the rank of masters, subverting the ordinary social order – Carnival, from the 16th century onwards, became one of the main celebrations in Papal Rome, and one of the richest and most extravagant in Europe, eventually becoming more popular and renowned than that of Venice during the Renaissance. Not simply a festival, but an integral part of the city's culture: just as in antiquity, Roman oligarchies also granted the populace, especially the lower classes, a period dedicated to entertainment. The entire citizenry participated; the lower classes mingled with the powerful, and could even mock them publicly; protected by the anonymity guaranteed by masks, a kind of leveling of all social divisions was achieved, and public derision of authorities and the aristocracy was even permitted. Masked individuals paraded, disguised as characters from the Commedia dell'Arte, particularly in Roman style. Via Lata (present-day Via del Corso), Piazza Colonna, and Piazza Venezia thus became the venues for the festival, allowing the people (and also the masked nobles) to take over the official nature of the celebration. Among the various painters who depicted carnival scenes, a prominent place belongs to the Roman Michelangelo Cerquozzi (Rome 1602 – 1660), to whose workshop our work can be readily attributed. Active mainly in Rome, Cerquozzi became known for his affiliation with the Roman popular Caravaggesque current - defined as the 'School of the Bamboccianti' - a pictorial movement to which Flemish, Dutch, and Italian painters belonged, who favored simple themes with popular scenes drawn from the daily life of Rome at the time. And Carnival, which lent itself perfectly to a popular narrative iconography, therefore constituted a typical subject for "bambocciate": in Cerquozzi's production, there are several works with carnival themes, preserved in various museums and collections, as well as many other authors belonging to the movement, such as Jan Miel (see Carnival in Rome, 1653, Madrid Museo del Prado), Johannes Lingelbach (see Carnival in Rome, 1650/1651 Kunsthistorisches Museum). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The painting is sold complete with a pleasant antique frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic card. We handle and organize the transport of purchased works, both within Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. Should you wish to see this or other works in person, we will be happy to welcome you to our new gallery in Riva del Garda, at Viale Giuseppe Canella 18. We look forward to seeing you! Contact us for any information or to arrange a visit, we will be happy to answer. Follow us also on: https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/