Tiziano Vecellio (1490 - 1576) bottega

Tiziano Vecellio (Pieve di Cadore 1490 - Venice 1576) Workshop Fight between putti on the Bridge of Fists in Venice --- Venetian School, late 16th century Oil on canvas (105 x 144 cm - Framed 128 x 167 cm) Provenance: Lepke Kunst-Auction-Haus of Berlin, Auction of 1.6.1926, lot 150, as Tiziano Vecellio, attribution by Wilhelm von Bode (1845-1929) FULL DETAILS OF THE WORK (CLICK HERE) Of the over four hundred bridges that dot the countless canals of Venice, there is one in particular that is connected to one of the city's most unique historical events: it is the Bridge of Fists, located in the Dorsoduro district near Campo San Barnaba, which owes its name to an ancient tradition, now abandoned, and which has given the theme to our interesting painting. In fact, it was a very small battlefield, suspended above the canal, in which a real "War of Fists" took place, here unusually depicted with children fighting animatedly. Always considered one of the most heartfelt traditions of Venice, dating back to the 15th century but then banned in the 18th century, it is still evoked today during the Carnival of Venice: it was nothing more than a brawl between the inhabitants of two opposing factions, the Castellani and the Nicolotti, who clashed on the upper part of the bridge, at the time completely devoid of railings, with the aim of throwing their opponents into the water. The painting, which is configured within the context of the Venetian school of the 16th century, bears a traditional attribution to the catalog of Tiziano Vecellio (Pieve di Cadore 1490 - Venice 1576) made in 1926 by the art historians Wilhelm von Bode (1845-1929), founder in 1904 of the Kaiser Friedrich Museum in Berlin, Max Jakob Friedländer (1867-1958) and Hermann Voss (1884-1969). Below is the link to the work published in the RKD catalog: https://research.rkd.nl/nl/detail/https%3A%2F%2Fdata.rkd.nl%2Fimageslite%2F1580566 Nevertheless, for precautionary attribution, we prefer to keep the painting as a work of his workshop, leaving open the hypothesis that the master may have plausibly taken part in the curious composition. In many works by Tiziano Vecellio, there are figures of putti, not simple decorative elements, but bearers of an important symbolic role: they often represent youth, innocence, light, but they can also have connections with deeper themes such as love, life, and death. The composition of our painting meticulously reproduces one of the friezes, entitled "The battle of children on the bridge", that Titian created for his palace in Venice, located in the Biri in the Cannaregio district. Two similar works, in the form of a frieze, are owned by Count Lanskoronski in Vienna and Bruckmann in Munich. The image suggests a sense of vitality that captures the viewer's soul, and for this reason, it must be interpreted in an allegorical key: these small children intent on having fun are therefore a hymn to life, and an invitation to abandon oneself to the impulses and sensations that it offers us. We can mention, as a comparison, the large altarpiece of the "Madonna Assunta" (Church of S. Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in Venice) where many of the poses of the putti depicted are specular to those of our painting (see details in the photos). --- 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 the purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. It is also possible to see the painting in the gallery of 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: INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/