Elisabetta Marchioni (Italian, act.1700) Carnations, tulips and roses in an urn in a rocky landscape

Lot description

Elisabetta Marchioni (Italian, act.1700) Carnations, tulips and roses in an urn in a rocky landscape oil on canvas Unframed: 94.5 x 133 cm. (37 1/8 x 52 3/8 in) Framed: 118 x 157 cm. (46 1/2 x 61 3/4 in.) Provenance: Sale; Sotheby's, London, 9 July 1998, lot 372 (as Margherita Caffi) Sale; Christie’s, London, 25 April 2007, lot 269 (as attributed to Margherita Caffi) Notes: Little is known about Elisabetta Marchioni’s early life, with biographer Francesco Bartoli serving as the primary source of information on her career. It is believed that Marchioni worked predominantly in Rovigo, where she produced mostly floral subjects. She was the wife of Goldsmith, Sante Marchioni. Francesco Bartoli recalls that Marchioni was a ‘celebre Pittrice di Fiori’ [‘celebrated Painter of Flowers’]. He goes on to note that ‘Grazioso pennello ella ebbe , e cercò d’ imitar la natura. L' occhio dell' osservatore resta talmente appagato nel vedere ne’ suoi dipinti freschezza, e verità , che mai non si staccherebbe da’ di lei Quadri’ [She possessed a graceful brush and sought to imitate nature. The eye of the observer remains so completely satisfied upon seeing the freshness and truth in her paintings, that one would never want to detach oneself from her pictures.]. (1) The present work beautifully showcases her ability to command the viewer’s attention; by casting her vibrant floral subjects against a dark, atmospheric background, she masterfully elevates them as the focal point of the composition. References: 1. F. Bartoli, Le pitture, sculture ed architetture della città di Rovigo. Con indici ed illustrazioni, Venice 1792 page 318-319 We are grateful to Alberto Crispi for suggesting the attribution to Elisabetta Marchioni, and Dr. Gianluca Bocchi for endorsing the attribution to this artist.