Genre scene with high-ranking characters sitting in a woodland clearing while attending a comic and playful performance by a Harlequin in the center of the scene. This work has been attributed, based on the theme of the scene and painting style, to the Veronese master Marco Marcola.
Marco Marcola (Verona, 1740 – 1793) was an Italian painter of the Rococo period, son of the painter Giambattista. He was a painter of various genres and with a vast production, widespread mainly in the Veneto-Lombardy area. He was a 360-degree painter, the eighteenth-century historian Luigi Lanzi defined him as:
<<...a universal painter, very quick at working, ferocious in inventions...>>
His works ranged from frescoes to the decoration of signs, furniture, sedan chairs, and gondolas, but he was mainly required for his popular genre paintings. The entire Marcola family dedicated themselves to the art of painting; the sons of Giambattista, Nicola, Francesco, and Marco, were painters. In particular, Nicola assisted Marco with frescoes, and Francesco was a quadraturist painter. Giambattista's daughter, Angela, also painted devotional pictures. Marco was also a designer of parties, stage sets, and fireworks.
Marco Marcola began his career decorating villas in the Verona area. His style has been considered very similar, both in terms of style and themes, to that of the Venetian Giandomenico Tiepolo, although no document mentions any possible contact between the two Venetian painters.
Marco Marcola was even more famous for his genre paintings, especially those dedicated to carnival themes. Among the most exemplary are the Theater Scene of the Commedia dell'Arte in the Arena of Verona, from 1772, and various masquerades. The most famous concern the king of the Veronese carnival called Papà del Gnoco in his red costume, prominent belly, white beard and hair, a hat with bells and a cloak, his scepter, and the fork with the gnocchi. Lord of the Veronese festival called Bacanal del Gnoco, a masked parade of his entire court and festive people, the true epilogue of the Carnival of Verona and painted by Marcola.
Four paintings attributed to Marcola are also found at the Teatro Museo in Trieste, with the Disguises of Harlequin.
The painting is in perfect condition with a beautiful eighteenth-century lacquered and gold frame with a double row of carvings.
The dimensions of the canvas are 71 x 84 cm.
We attach to the sale a guarantee in accordance with the law certifying its authenticity and period.
