Ambito di Francesco Vanni

Interesting preparatory sketch of a putto, oil on canvas, which has never undergone restoration. The frame, contemporary to the period and also never restored, is in excellent condition of gilding. The attribution of this study is uncertain, but given the type of depiction and the particular features of the character, we believe it may be from the pictorial sphere of the Sienese Francesco Vanni (Siena, 1563 - 1610). In fact, some of his preparatory drawings and sketches in red chalk of putti with similar features are known; from the roundness of the body parts to the particular expressiveness of the face. In light of this attribution, we can place the work in a time frame from the end of the 16th century to the first half of the 17th century. The work appears unfinished to date, in fact from the position and in the gestures of the putto it seems that it was depicted in the act of holding in hand, an object of elongated shape of some kind; we hypothesize it may be a wooden cross, but it could also be a musical instrument. The measures of the canvas are 75cm x 60 cm. The measurements including frame are: 74 x 82. We attach a guarantee of authenticity to the sale. The painting is visible in our exhibition space in Foligno (PG), P.zza Giacomini, 42.