attr. a Gaetano Ottani (1720 - 1801)

Oil on canvas depicting a beautiful landscape with classical ruins and some common people and wayfarers. The painting has been relined previously and is in excellent condition. The fine execution can be attributed with certainty to the pictorial production of Gaetano Ottani (Bologna 1720 - Turin 1801), who in addition to being an excellent painter, was an important tenor and had a complex career as a set designer. Gaetano Ottani (or Gaetano Bernardino Ottani) as a painter trained in Bologna, at the Clementina Academy and was inspired by the works of Ferdinando Galli da Bibbiena. He received commissions for decorations in the most important Piedmontese villas and palaces. He loved to represent landscapes with ruins, nocturnal visions on colonnades and invented seascapes. His scenes are imaginative and rich in details. Inspired by the Venetian style of narration, he created elaborate and imposing architectures, classical or Gothic, which were enhanced by his remarkable set design skills, so much so that they exceeded the frame of the painting. The painting has its beautiful Salvador Rosa frame from the early 18th century in black and ochre lacquer. The dimensions of the painting are 118 x 94. The section of the frame measures approximately 16 cm. We provide a guarantee of authenticity from our antiques gallery. www.antichitabompadre.com