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Carlo Cignani *Bacchanal of Satyrs and Cupids* Oil on canvas…
See original version (Italian)
63
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Carlo Cignani *Bacchanal of Satyrs and Cupids* Oil on canvas…
See original version (Italian)
Estimate €40,000 - €60,000
Voluntary lot
Description
Carlo Cignani *Bacchanal of Satyrs and Cupids* Oil on canvas, 124 x 152.5 cm
This painting, depicting a Bacchanal of cherubs, bears significant similarities to the work of Carlo Cignani, one of the leading figures in Emilian painting between the 17th and 18th centuries, both in its compositional structure and in the rendering of the flesh tones, as well as in the choice of a mythological and playful subject. The scene depicts a lively tussle between three winged cherubs and three small satyrs, the protagonists of a playful and festive episode rooted in the Bacchic tradition. The interplay between the childlike figures, animated by intertwined gestures and movements, lends the composition a marked dynamism, tempered by formal balance and the softness of the modelling.The pyramidal arrangement of the group bears interesting parallels with compositional solutions adopted by Cignani, particularly in *The Triumph of Love*, held in the collections of the Princes of Liechtenstein in Vaduz. Similar affinities can be seen in the depiction of the child figures, characterised by full-bodied forms and delicately modelled complexions, which recall works such as the Young St John in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich and the Bacchus and Erigone as Children in the Civic Museums of Pesaro.The treatment of light is also particularly significant, achieved through carefully calibrated chiaroscuro contrasts that emphasise the three-dimensionality of the bodies, making them stand out against the more subdued and shaded background. The colour palette, featuring predominantly cool tones and soft chromatic transitions, helps to define the elegant and harmonious character of the depiction. The canvas is set in a monumental nineteenth-century frame of carved and gilded wood, which is particularly well-suited to the Bacchic subject matter. The frieze features a rich decorative scheme consisting of plant garlands, vine shoots, vine leaves and bunches of grapes, whilst the inner edge is adorned with a twisted ribbon motif. The subframe is made from older material. A label on the reverse attributes the frame’s construction and gilding to Gaetano Terrieri, a gilder and varnisher active in Livorno, adding a further element of historical and documentary interest to the work as a whole.The painting also boasts a well-documented exhibition history, having been featured in the exhibitions *Il giuoco al tempo di Caravaggio*, held at Villa Smilea in Montale between 2013 and 2014, and *Arte e Vino*, staged at the Gran Guardia in Verona in 2015.Bibliography:*Il giuoco al tempo di Caravaggio*, exhibition catalogue edited by P. L. Carofano, Montale (Pistoia), Villa Smilea Castle, 7 December 2013 – 6 January 2014, Pontedera, Bandecchi & Vivaldi Editori, 2013, pp. 114, 152–153. Exhibitions: - Montale (Pistoia), Villa Smilea Castle, ‘Il giuoco al tempo di Caravaggio’, 7 December 2013 – 6 January 2014. – Verona, Palazzo della Gran Guardia, ‘Arte e Vino’, 11 April – 16 August 2015.
See original version (Italian)
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Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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