Pietro Bellotti (Volciano 1625- Gargnano 1700)

Masterpiece by Pietro Bellotti (Volciano 1625 -Gargnano 1700). The painting depicts an "elderly beggar asking for alms, a child on the left and an elderly woman on the right," was executed by the master, with a probable collaboration of a pupil of his, for the two background figures. A painting depicting only the face of the beggar is located in the museum of Krakow. Pietro Bellotti moved to Venice at the age of 12 and remained there, under the teachings of Forabosco until 1670. Here he dedicated himself to portraiture, which he approached with humanity and his naturalism, in the manner of Ribeira, will point the way to the artists of the genre who will succeed him, such as Giacomo Ceruti. Bellotti distinguished himself for the production of portraits and imaginative figures, known for the precision of the details, which earned him the possibility of becoming one of the most appreciated portrait painters of his time. To paint his figures, he drew inspiration from common people, mixing a pinch of caricature in the representations. His works, sometimes arid, are softened by a harmoniously mixed color, associated with a deep chiaroscuro that moderates and at the same time gives the figure a certain relief. The painting is accompanied by expertise from Prof. Luciano Anelli, author of the monograph on Bellotti. The painting is in excellent condition, with a restoration and re-lining dating back to the end of the 1990s. Canvas measurements 129x95 with frame 149x115. The work is accompanied by a certificate of free circulation.