Michele Rocca (Parma 1666- Venezia 1751)

Michele Rocca, known as "Parmigianino" (Parma 1666 - Venice 1751) Oil on canvas Dimensions: 97 x 72 cm / 105 x 80 cm framed Excellent condition The painting has been professionally cleaned and placed on a new frame to bring the canvas into perfect tension, avoiding lining and maintaining the original canvas. A magnificent painting depicting one of the most fascinating scenes of Greek and Roman mythology. The Myth of Apollo and Daphne is narrated in Apuleius' "Metamorphoses" and tells the tormented love story between the two protagonists. She, a beautiful Naiad Nymph, protector of rivers, falls in love with Apollo, God of the Arts, among the most loved and feared of Olympus. After a dispute between him and Cupid, the God of Love decides to take revenge and strikes Apollo with the golden arrow of love and Daphne with the lead arrow of hate. To escape from Apollo, who was chasing her madly in love, the Nymph called for help from her father Peneus, God of the River, and her mother Gaea, Goddess of the Earth, who transformed her into a beautiful laurel tree, forever separating the two lovers. From that day on, the laurel became a sacred plant and crowned Apollo's head, becoming a symbol of glory. The canvas is painted masterfully and the depicted characters are divided into two groups. On the left, Apollo manages to grasp Daphne, who is now turning into a tree with branching hands and roots at her feet, observed by her father Peneus on the river bank. On the right, two splendid Naiad Nymphs with their feet in the water observe the scene. The composition is particularly successful, and the nudity of the elegant figures stands out excellently in the setting rich in lights and shadows of the fluvial undergrowth. The works are to be attributed to the talented Parmesan master Michele Rocca, whose workshop specialized in the creation of historical and mythological paintings that were always very articulated and scenic. Biography: Known by the nickname "Parmigianino" or "il Parmigiano", Michele Rocca was born in Parma in 1666. The date of birth is confirmed by the inscription on the artist's self-portrait exhibited in Stockholm in the National Museum. The first training took place in Parma, with Filippo Maria Galletti, a painter strongly influenced by Pietro da Cortona, whose stylistic lesson accompanied him throughout his long career. He moved to Rome around 1682 while still very young, attracted by the cultural events of the Capital, where he frequented the workshop of Ciro Ferri. The apprenticeship at Ferri led him to knowledge of painting techniques and the use of colors, but it did not mark his production. In fact, Rocca was careful to reinterpret the lessons of numerous painters such as Filippo Lauri, Carlo Maratti, Sebastiano Conca, but also Luca Giordano, Francesco Solimena and Sebastiano Ricci. During his long stay in Rome, he earned an excellent reputation even in high-ranking circles, with consequent assignments and prestigious commissions. All photographic details of the work on: https://www.antichitaischia.it/it/prodotto/coppia-scene-mitologiche---1---apollo-e-dafne- Negotiable price and personalized payment Tracked shipping (DHL TRACKING) and fully insured with anti-shock packaging in custom-made wooden box. Delivery within 3 working days from receipt of the bank transfer (DHL EXPRESS)