Saint Joseph With The Child, Oil On Canvas With Superb Original Frame. Late XVII Century

Interesting oil on canvas depicting Saint Joseph with the child, linked to the iconography of the "Fatherhood" disseminated by Guido Reni in the first half of the 17th century and which had great success during the splendor of the Baroque period which would revitalize the figure of those who are called to take care "as a father" of the Son of God.

The figure of the vigorous and vital child contrasts with the more squatting and thoughtful figure of the one who supports him in his arms. Joseph's expression is full of sentimentality because it is taken at the moment when the deep awareness of his vocation and his mission on earth is manifested.

The stylistic and pictorial analysis on the work leads us, first of all, to find an effective plastic vigor of the figures also due to a marked accentuation of the values ​​of chiaroscuro. These characteristics are well attested in the catalog of the Venetian master Giovan Battista Piazzetta (Venice 1683-1754), and he learned from contact with Emilian painting during his first apprenticeship away from Venice. In fact, it was in the Bolognese years that he was able to compare himself to the works of Giuseppe Maria Crespi and the luminous force of Guercino.

These data, as well as certain chromatic characteristics of the surfaces facing the light and the redness that characterizes certain anatomy, especially in children, are inherent to the painter G.B. Piazzetta since his first Venetian training. Another interesting technical data is the quick and sure drafting of the brush strokes, which are well associated with the period of transition between baroque and rococo prevailing in the second decade of the eighteenth century, period to which this canvas should belong, that is i.e. the youthful phase of the Piazzetta.

The painting is mounted on a magnificent and important contemporary frame, inverted "salvador rosa", decorated in lacquered imitation marble and ocher lacquer, which is approximately 17 cm thick.

The canvas measures 74 cm wide x 96 cm high; the external dimensions of the frame are 108 cm x 125 cm.

We attach to the sale a historical certificate of authenticity in accordance with the law.

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