Venus and Adonis, Corrado Giaquinto (Naples, 1703 - Naples, 1765)

Corrado Giaquinto (Naples, 1703 - Naples, 1765) Venus tries to detain Adonis from the hunt Oil on canvas 131 x 100 cm. - With an important period frame (defects, small losses) 152 x 118 cm. FULL DETAILS OF THE PAINTING (CLICK HERE) The proposed work illustrates the myth of Venus and Adonis, one of the most beloved mythological subjects in art, especially in the Baroque era: taken from the poem 'Metamorphoses' by the Latin poet Ovid (X, vv. 525-559), it perfectly embodies the sensitivity of the time for subjects of high emotional intensity, with a perfect blend of strong passions and sensuality united by an intense dramatic charge. In our case, it tells of the passion that blossomed, thanks to an arrow shot by Cupid, between Venus, goddess of beauty and love, and the beautiful young mortal hunter Adonis. Despite the goddess's warnings about the dangers of the forest, Adonis decided to go hunting anyway, where he would be mortally wounded by a wild boar sent by the god Mars, jealous of their union. The composition does not illustrate the tragic epilogue, but instead focuses on the moment that precedes it, namely Venus's futile attempt to detain the young hunter before he meets his tragic fate. Beautiful is the detail of little Cupid depicted covering his face with his hand in sign of despair, as if presaging that the love between the two will soon end: in one hand he holds a lit but inverted torch, a powerful symbol of classical derivation, associated with unhappy love and the imminent death of earthly pleasures. This is a qualitatively important work, attributable to the Italian painter Corrado Giaquinto (Naples, 1703 - Naples, 1765), one of the protagonists of 18th-century European painting, and created, in our opinion, around 1740-1750, therefore in his period of full maturity. The canvas is indeed an emblematic synthesis of the master's style in this phase, in which his style draws from the elegance and lightness of the Rococo period, while maintaining the grandeur of the Italian late Baroque, defined by a soft rendering that gives the figures an almost ethereal grace. The scene is characterized by a strong sense of movement and energy, and a marked compositional theatricality inherited from the painter's Neapolitan training, rendered thanks to the use of a vibrant palette rich in warm and golden tones; the masterful use of light, almost metaphysical, which models the bodies with softness combined with the sinuous movement of the figures, are the unmistakable signatures of the artist in the indicated period. As we often find in other compositions by the painter, the pictorial space is conceived as a true theatrical stage, governed by dynamism and emotional emphasis; the scene is framed by an imposing red drape suspended in the upper left, partly supported by a cherub, which emphasizes this concept, framing the action just like in an opera set design. Even the nocturnal setting, a peculiarity often seen in his works, plays a crucial role, with the intention of giving further emotional impact to the story and, in our case, foreshadowing the danger. To support our attribution, we can compare the proposed painting with the following mythological works by Giaquinto, in which we can find stylistic and compositional parallels: Imm.1 - C. Giaquinto, Death of Adonis, Villa della Regina, Turin https://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/scheda/opera/66958/ Imm.2 - C. Giaquinto, Venus gives arms to Aeneas, Palazzo del Quirinale, Rome https://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/scheda/opera/66938/ Imm.3 - C. Giaquinto, Aeneas and Dido surprised by the storm, Palazzo del Quirinale, Rome https://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/scheda/opera/66945/ Imm.4 - C. Giaquinto, Ulysses and Diomedes in Rhesus's tent, Civic Pinacoteca, Bari https://catalogo.beniculturali.it/detail/HistoricOrArtisticProperty/1600035725 Imm.5 - C. Giaquinto, Judith and Holofernes, Provincial Museum Palazzo Argento, Lecce https://catalogo.beniculturali.it/detail/HistoricOrArtisticProperty/1600165018 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The painting includes a pleasant golden frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic sheet. We handle and organize the transport of purchased works, both for 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 reply. Follow us also on: https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/