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The painting depicts one of the most famous and celebrated divas of the European 18th century: Santina Olivieri, known as la Reggiana, elegantly dressed with a generous neckline. A love-struck swan, adorned with flowers, approaches her suggestively. The painting alludes to the myth of Leda and the Swan, which tells how Zeus, transforming himself into a swan, seduced Leda, wife of Tyndareus, king of Sparta, on the banks of the Eurotas River. From this union were born, after Leda laid eggs, the divine twins Pollux and Helen (whose beauty sparked the Trojan War), and the mortal twins Castor and Clytemnestra, children of Tyndareus, born from a subsequent night when Leda lay with her husband. The myth, exploring themes of divine love, seduction, transformation, and the birth of central figures in Greek mythology, became a classic subject in Renaissance art and beyond, captivating many artists, including Leonardo.
In this case, the role of the beautiful Leda is played by a very famous Italian dancer who was very active in Germany, where she became a true acclaimed diva: Santina Olivieri, known as la Reggiana. We know relatively little about this dancer.
Born in Reggio Emilia (hence her nickname), she married Pierantonio Gratarol (1738-1785) at just twenty-two years old, though already endowed with a considerable dowry. Gratarol was an ambassador for the Republic of Venice at the court of Naples and soon divorced her after squandering her entire dowry. Gratarol was an adventurer with a disorderly life, a fact that later led him to be banished and sentenced to death in Venice.
In 1744, she is documented as the prima ballerina for the season at the Obizzi theater in Padua, but she was active in many Italian theaters. Between 1747 and 1748, she was in Naples at the San Carlo theater, where she was engaged for at least 4 ballets under the direction of Gaetano Grossatesta, choreographer-impresario at the Royal San Carlo Theater. Benedetto Croce recounts that "In November 1751, the dancer Santa Olivieri, known as la Reggiana, was ordered to leave Naples, as she was not employed. Fainting etc. But here is a plea from the "Gav. Count Giorgio Azzo Migli Orucci di Petrella Nientzlawski, noble Patrician of the Kingdom of Poland, and free Baron of the Palatinate of Krakow." He wanted to come to settle in Naples with his son Antonio, whom he had married the Reggiana to in Rome. This gentleman with so many names was not granted permission" (Theaters f. 9).
Nothing else is known about this episode in Olivieri's life, but it is certain that at the beginning of 1752 the woman was in Vienna and later in Berlin, where her success was such that Antonio Pesne was ordered to create her portrait, which adorned Frederick II's bedroom in Potsdam. The Italian dancer was engaged by the Berlin court theater from April 8, 1752, to May 12, 1753, and first danced before the king in Potsdam on August 20, 1752. Highly admired, she was the subject of a series of en travesti portraits. Antoine Pesne portrayed la Reggiana as Leda and as Cleopatra. The dancer later returned to Italy and died in Treviso on November 13, 1786.
Era: 18th Century;
Provenance: France;
Dimensions: Including frame: Height 130 cm; Width 110 cm; Without frame: Height 96 cm; Width 77 cm;
Condition: Excellent condition;
Document: Certificate of authenticity and expertise by Dr. Arabella Cifani;
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