Giacomo Nani (Porto Ercole 1698 - Napoli 1770)

Giacomo Nani (Porto Ercole 1698 - Naples 1770) Still life with flowers, stand with crystals and liqueurs, icebox, porcelains, and basket with biscuits Oil on canvas (cm 64 x 73 - Framed cm 83 x 93) Provenance (see images): - Dorotheum (April 14, 2005) Vienna, Lot 37 Est: €20,000 EUR - €30,000 EUR - Dorotheum (October 15, 2008), Lot 281 Est: €18,000 EUR - €25,000 EUR The proposed painting is a work by the Neapolitan painter Giacomo Nani (Porto Ercole 1698 - Naples 1770) and delights us with a selection of the favorite elements in the creation of his precious still lifes; on a stone shelf, on which an embroidered carpet is placed, we see a series of objects, including two painted porcelain cups, a stand with two bottles of liqueur and crystal glasses; there is also a transparent glass vase full of flowers, and finally food, a basket with biscuits, a wrapped Neapolitan eggplant and an icebox with an oyster. The whole is arranged to create a refined and elegant ensemble. A student of Gaspare Lopez (Naples - Venice ca. 1732), one of the major still life painters of the time, Giacomo Nani developed an autonomous personality over time, much appreciated by nobles and collectors of the eighteenth century, among whom we mention the Duchess of Terranova and the Duke of Limatola, as well as the Bourbons. In particular, numerous were his paintings owned by King Charles of Bourbon, now preserved in Naples and Caserta at the art gallery of the Royal Estate of Carditello. Twenty-four canvases by Giacomo Nani were sent to Spain by Charles of Bourbon as a gift to his mother, Elisabetta Farnese, and today are kept at the Royal Palace of Riofrío, one of the residences of the Spanish royal family, and at the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso, in Segovia. A painter of still lifes, his works were often dedicated to the most diverse foods, in his compositions appear foods of the time and in particular, in the series preserved in Spain, are represented, as in a selected menu, most of the dishes that were served in those years on the tables of the Neapolitans. He sometimes depicted objects typical of the Neapolitan tradition as in the present painting, the typical rosolio wine, the Capodimonte ceramics and the icebox: the latter, in particular, constitute almost an identifying feature of the painter, being present in many of his paintings. For comparative purposes, we see for example three signed works, therefore of certain attribution, precisely: ‘’Still life with slices of fish, box of molluscs, basket of figs, melon and vegetables’’ (Christie's, Milan, November 29, 2006, n. 53, imm.1), ‘’Still life with plate of watermelon, ice cream, cups, sweets and flowers’’’/’‘Still life with porcelains, vase of flowers, basket of donuts, bread, flask and glasses (Private collection, Bergamo, imm. 2 and 3), and again ‘’The interior of the kitchen’’ (Naples, Museo di Capodimonte, imm.4). Imm 1: https://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/scheda/opera/89643/Nani%20Giacomo%2C%20Natura%20morta%20con... Imm 2: https://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/scheda/opera/89644/Nani%20Giacomo%2C%20Natura%20morta%20con... Imm 2: https://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/scheda/opera/89642/Nani%20Giacomo%2C%20Natura%20morta%20con... Imm 4: https://catalogo.beniculturali.it/detail/HistoricOrArtisticProperty/1500814521#lg=1&slide=0 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The work is sold complete with a pleasant frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and descriptive iconographic sheet. We take care of and organize the transport of purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. It is also possible to view the painting in the gallery in Riva del Garda, we will be happy to welcome you to show you our collection of works. Contact us, without obligation, for any additional information. Follow us also on : https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/