Pair of still lifes with fish

Oil on canvas

72 x 96 cm.

Framed: 85 x 108 cm.

Provenance:

- Finarte, Milan, 23 October 2007, lot 517, Estimate: €18,000 – €20,000

(page 189 of the catalogue)

- Ponte, Milan, 9 June 2009, lot 144, Estimate: €15,000 – €16,000

https://www.ponteonline.com/en/lot-details/auction/261/lot/144/?utm_source=mutualart&utm_medium=....

A refined pair of still lifes depicting compositions of fish, shellfish and the catch, arranged within a shadowy setting, with a sweeping panoramic view in the background.

The works are distinguished by their evocative use of light, playing on deep chiaroscuro contrasts, and by the careful naturalistic rendering of the various fish species, characterised by brilliant silvery reflections and a remarkable sense of texture.

The canvases, which show clear affinities with the Neapolitan still-life tradition that developed between the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, are traditionally attributed to the oeuvre of Elena Recco (Naples 1654 – Madrid 1715), one of the most important female painters of the Neapolitan school, renowned for her extraordinary specialist expertise in fish still-lives.

Following in her father’s footsteps – her father was the renowned master Giuseppe Recco – she developed a unique personal style, which makes her works easily recognisable to art experts. The theatrical arrangement of the catch, the dark, Baroque-inspired atmosphere and the rendering of light on the surfaces evoke the tradition established by her family, within which Elena developed her own personal pictorial sensibility, much appreciated in the aristocratic collections of Naples and Rome.

A close look at the two works under consideration here allows us to identify all the distinctive characteristics of the artist’s oeuvre: to achieve the chromatic rendering of the scales, her compositions feature typical grey-blue hues, whilst the bodies of the fish gleam with silvery and metallic reflections, rendered with a textured application of paint;

In her paintings, the fish with their shimmering scales and the details of the catch stand out theatrically against dark, atmospheric backgrounds, creating that typical dramatic contrast derived precisely from the tradition of the southern Caravaggist school.

The quality of her work earned her an invitation from the King of Spain to move to the court in Madrid in 1695 – an honour granted only to established artists – where she worked to great acclaim and secured important commissions.

Today, her paintings can be found in renowned collections such as the Pushkin Museum in Moscow, the National Museum in Warsaw and in the Federico Zeri Foundation’s catalogue.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The images were taken using a professional photography set-up; therefore, the paintings may appear darker when not illuminated.

The paintings come complete with two attractive gilded frames and are accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic sheet.

We arrange and organise the transport of purchased works, both within Italy and abroad, using professional, insured carriers.

Should you wish to view this or other works in person, we would be delighted to welcome you to our new gallery in Riva del Garda, at Viale Giuseppe Canella 18. We look forward to seeing you!

Please contact us for any further information or to arrange a visit; we’ll be happy to assist you.

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