Circle of Francesco Albani (Bologna, 1578 – 1660), The Rest of Venus and Vulcan

Circle of Francesco Albani (Bologna, 1578 – 1660) The Rest of Venus and Vulcan Oil on canvas, 72x127 cm With frame, 90x147 cm The artist responsible for the execution of this canvas appears capable of interpreting the suggestions of the art of the ideal master Francesco Albani in an original way; the painting conforms in fact as a personal interpretation of the iconographic theme of the Rest of Venus and Vulcan, conceived by Albani and presented in the masterpieces of the Musée du Louvre (inv. MR14) and the Galleria Borghese (inv. 035): to inspire Albani in the creation of this new iconographic type is a Hellenistic text, rediscovered and translated by the scholars of the early seventeenth century, the Eikones of Philostratus of Lemnos. Venus and her consort Vulcan are softly lying on the grassy ground, while a procession of cupids and putti handles the metal artifacts made within the forge of the god. The landscape that welcomes the figures is extensive and bright; to emphasize the intimacy between the two lovers, in our canvas there is a red cloth with soft draperies, absent in both versions of the subject conceived by the Bolognese painter. Francesco Albani was born in Bologna on August 17, 1578. His father was a silk merchant and wanted his son to follow his business, but Francesco became an apprentice of the Flemish Mannerist painter Denijs Calvaert. In this studio he met Guido Reni, and together they joined the so-called "Accademia degli Incamminati" run by the Carracci family. This study gave impetus to the career of many painters of the Bolognese school, including Domenichino and Guercino. In 1600 Albani moved to Rome, where he worked on the frescoes of Palazzo Farnese under the guidance of Annibale Carracci. Albani's Roman stay lasted sixteen years. During this period he became an independent painter and created important works such as the frescoes for the Aldobrandini chapel in San Carlo al Corso and several canvases for important Roman families such as the Borghese, the Colonna, the Corsini and the Giustiniani. After the death of his wife, Albani returned to Bologna in 1616 to take care of his son. In Bologna he opened his own studio which became very popular. Between 1621 and 1622 he stayed in Mantua, and in 1623 he returned to Rome again for a short period. The last decades of his life were mainly dedicated to painting in Bologna, where he died on October 4, 1660. His last work was probably the Rest in the Flight into Egypt (1659-1660), painted for Vittoria de' Medici and preserved at Palazzo Pitti in Florence. Albani was a prolific and versatile painter, known above all for his paintings with mythological and religious subjects, characterized by an idealized classicism, bright colors and graceful figures. Some of his most famous works include the Dance of the Cupids, the Rape of Europa, Diana and Actaeon, Salmace and Hermaphrodite, Galatea and several versions of the Toilet of Venus. He was also an appreciated landscape painter, influenced by the style of Annibale Carracci and Domenichino. His pupils included Andrea Sacchi, Francesco Mola and Carlo Cignani.