Maestro del vaso a grottesche (XVII secolo)

Master of the grotesque vase (active in Rome and Naples in the first quarter of the 17th century) Still life with flowers in a classic vase   oil on canvas cm 66 x 51 Framed cm. 82 x 68   Full details of the artwork https://www.antichitacastelbarco.it/it/prodotto/natura-morta-con-vaso-classico-a-grottesche   In this sumptuous still life we see a precious classic metal vase, partly gilded and embossed, enlivened by two jutting harpies acting as handles, which holds a valuable floral bouquet inside. Next to the vase, placed on a stone shelf, are two small birds arranged symmetrically opposite each other.   The elaborate artifact, as much a protagonist as the floral varieties it contains, has a capricious and bizarre shape, which takes inspiration in its features from the still late Mannerist taste. All of which evoke the magnificent studies of vases executed, between the 16th and 17th centuries, by Polidoro da Caravaggio.   The shape and decoration of our vase reflect a model very common in the 17th century, which art historians have grouped under the name "Masters of grotesque vases". This name groups together multiple authors, probably active in different territories of Central Italy, mainly Rome and Naples, but also in the North, in a time span spread over the course of the 17th century. This is a production of paintings with a rather archaic setting, also very different from the stylistic and qualitative point of view, depicting bouquets of flowers inside "antique" vases.   In particular, the painting offered here can be placed in the Neapolitan context for its stylistic and compositional characteristics, with strong similarities to the painter Giacomo Recco (Naples 1603 – before 1653), within his mature production, therefore around the mid-seventeenth century. For example, see: Recco Giacomo, Still life with vase of flowers (http://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/entry/work/90812/Recco%20Giacomo%2C%20Natura%20morta%20con%2...)   Common peculiarities of these works are the use of embossed and chiseled metal vases in Mannerist style with figured handles and a richly decorated central body, and the support surfaces consisting of a simple parallelepiped of squared stone isolated in the center of the pictorial field. Other common characteristics are the archaic, schematic and sometimes symmetrical setting of the bouquet of flowers, and above all the weak plastic and naturalistic rendering of the plants, which often appear as rigid silhouettes cut out and applied to the canvas.   The painting is in excellent condition, perfectly restored, accompanied by a beautiful gilded frame.   The work, like all our objects, is sold with a photographic certificate of authenticity in accordance with the law.   Follow us on:   https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/