Pacecco De Rosa (naples, 1607 - Naples, 1656), Suzanne And The Elders

Oil painting on canvas, representing Susanna and the Elders, Pacecco De Rosa (Naples, 1607 - Naples, 1656).

This intriguing painting was attributed by Achille Della Ragione, after a direct view of the work, the attribution to the Neapolitan painter was later confirmed by Vincenzo Pacelli, following the publication of the book "Giovan Francesco De Rosa known as Pacecco De Rosa 1607 - 1656 ".

The work was also published in 2011 by Achille Della Ragione on the cover of the essay "The Neapolitan Painting of the Seventeenth Century".

The writer and Neapolitan, in the writing affirms:

“I was able to admire, during the phase of restoration, an intriguing Susanna and the ancients (fig.2) attributed to Michele Ragolia, hypothesis to be rejected in favor of an autograph by Pacecco De Rosa, inspired by paintings by ana subjectlogo by Stanzione della Stadtisches Kunstinstitut in Frankfurt, but above all by Van Dyck, once in Naples and today at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, which presents on the right the identical fountain with putto , literally taken from the canvas in question.

The pungent sensuality of the composition dissolves into a clear and balanced narration, rendered with a palette in which cold tones predominate. The innocent nudity of the young girl is entirely resolved in the enamelled radiance of the body and in the softness of the dress which partially covers her, leaving the magnificent breasts to the visual greed of the two old men, to theatrical and stubborn gestures like greed. foolish.

The painting belongs to the mid-forties, in the full maturity of the artist, when his adherence to the classicism of the Romano-Bolognese matrix became more and more convinced, through the lesson of Stanzione and the examples of Artemisia.

Provenance:

Rome, Private collection

Bibliography:

“Painting of the 17th century Neapolitan”, Achille Della Ragione, Napoli Arte Editions, cover.

Dimensions: 202 x 152 cm