Matteo Ghidoni (Firenze 1626-Padova 1700)

"The Merry Beggars" Matteo Ghidoni (Florence 1626-Padua 1700) Oil on canvas Gilded wooden frame, richly carved Canvas dimensions 60 x 72 frame 91 x 103 The work is in excellent condition. All the details of the painting on the private website: https://www.antichitaischia.it/it/prodotto/gli-allegri-mendicanti The canvas, in addition to being very pleasant, is truly interesting and amazes for how much joyful lightheartedness this group of raggedly dressed characters manages to spread. Among the countless delightful animated scenes with characters of peasant extraction described by the famous Flemish masters and the Italian "Bamboccianti", the depiction of a group of beggars is rare, if not impossible to find. Instead of capturing the typical rural, yet dignified, context, the author proposes an unusual scene, where the protagonists are evidently paupers who gather in the evening by the fire to celebrate the fruits of their begging. The vigorous brushstrokes and bright colors with very pronounced chiaroscuro create a pleasant effect of movement and three-dimensionality. The fire, fueled by the child with the bellows, illuminates all the figures frontally, which stand out sharply from the dark background of the room. The work, which at first glance might seem Flemish, is actually attributable to the very Italian hand of Matteo Ghidoni, known as Matteo dei Pitocchi, a talented exponent of the Bamboccianti pictorial current. In fact, the stylistic characteristics of the figures and especially of the little dog with strongly Italianate features, lead us directly to his characteristic production. For comparison, see a similar work by Ghidoni in the photo library of the "Federico Zeri Foundation" at the University of Bologna. https://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/entry/work/59021/Ghidoni%20Matteo%2C%20Interno%20con%20cont... The painting strikes the viewer with the vivacity of the composition, which, even in its crude reality, conveys a joyful message. We issue a stamped and signed certificate of authenticity which guarantees the period, origin and all the characteristics of the work, drawn up by an Antique Dealer affiliated with FIMA (ITALIAN FEDERATION OF ART MERCHANTS). Delivery in Italy and throughout Europe within 3 days of receiving the bank transfer. The shipment is tracked and insured and travels with careful shockproof packaging inside a custom-made wooden crate.