18th C Old Master Painting Attributed To Giovanni Maria Delle Piane (1660-1745) Portrait

Attributed to Giovanni Maria delle Piane, called Mulinaretto (1660 – 1745)

Portrait of a Noblewoman

Oil on canvas, laid down onto board, oval, 81 x 66 mm

Contained in a superb original carved and gilded 18th-century Baroque frame (maximum outer dimensions 102 x 88 cm)

Provenance: private collection, The Netherlands

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This beautiful portrait is attributed to the Genoese painter Giovanni Maria delle Piane, who is known for his portraits. This painting is possibly partly unfinished, as some of the red ground is still visible in certain areas.

Giovanni Maria was born in Genoa, Italy, the son of Giovanni Battista delle Piane, from the noble house Delle Piane. He was nicknamed the "Molinaretto" as his grandparents, renown land owners from Polcevera, had watermills (from Italian molino, watermill). From the age of 10 till 16 years, he apprenticed with Giovanni Battista Merano, then he transferred to Rome to work under the famed fresco painter, Giovanni Battista Gaulli (il Baciccio), who held him like a son. He was prolific during his long artistic career. The style of his first works links him with the school of Genoese portraiture beginning with Van Dyck led to Carlone. His portraiture technique employs robust incisiveness in the face of the subjects, with a decorative exuberance superimposed upon the opulent scenography with meticulous attention to aristocratic garb and particular artifacts of the subject's family.