Pietro Bellotti (Volciano 1625-Gargnano 1700)

Masterpiece by Pietro Bellotti (Volciano 1625 - Gargnano 1700). The painting, depicting "an elderly beggar asking for alms, a child on the left and an elderly woman on the right", was executed by the master, with the likely collaboration of a student of his, for the two peripheral figures. A painting depicting only the face of the beggar is located at 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 devoted himself to portraiture, approaching it with humanity, and his naturalism, in the manner of Ribeira, would indicate the path to the artists of the genre who would succeed him, such as Giacomo Ceruti. Bellotti distinguished himself for the production of portraits and imaginative figures, known for the precision of details, which earned him the possibility of becoming one of the most appreciated portraitists of his time. To paint his figures, he drew inspiration from ordinary people, mixing a touch of caricature in the depictions. 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 relining dating back to the end of the 1990s. Canvas dimensions 129x95, with frame 149x115. The work is accompanied by a certificate of free circulation.