Ermanno Stroiffi (padua, 1616 - Venice, 1693), San Girolamo

Ermanno Stroiffi (Padua, 1616 - Venice, 1693)

San Girolamo

Oil on canvas, cm 117 x 98

With frame, cm 135 x 119

Reference bibliographical references:

R. Pallucchini, The Venetian Painting of the seventeenth century, I, Milan 1981, p. 337

D. Cristante, News and updates for Ermanno Stroiffi, in Art Document, 11, 1997, pp. 108-117

Already attributed to Bernardo Strozzi and Pietro Negri, the painting was brought back by Filippo Pedrocco to the catalogue of Ermanno Stroiffi. The analysis of the work has remarkable qualitative aspects and the design structure betrays the influences of the Cappuccino, particularly in the face and in those more energetic and immediate dough, but just as evident is the tension dark and tonal, which denotes an execution related to the creations of Giovanni Battista Langetti and Johann Carl Loth. This aspect suggests that we are in the presence of a mature performance, when the artist breaks free from the teachings of the Genoese and participates fully to the Lagunar tenebrism. Having said this, given the quality of the painter, it is not surprising that Marco Boschini praised him in his Carta Del Navegar pitoresco, which defined the Stroiffi as a 'Pitor that is very valuable, the so penel denotes great courage, all the vigor, all the heart', An appreciation that raises Stroiffi to a higher degree than a simple imitator and, like his aforementioned colleagues, able to re-read the chiaroscuro of Tintoretto and Palma il Giovane, announcing the contrasts of light by Giovanni Battista Piazzetta.