Painting depicting "View of Rome with countryside scene at Campovaccino of the ancient Roman Forum", work of high quality performed by PIETER VAN BLOEMEN DETTO "THE STANDARD" (Antwerp, 1657-1720)

About 1690

oil on canvas, 76 x 104 cm.

Private Collection, Rome

Representative and typical testimony of Pieter van Bloemen (Antwerp 1657 - 1720), in particular of his stay in Rome, this suggestive "Country scene with views of Rome", exposes us on a subject to him congenial, which we find in other times in his catalog.

It was precisely during his long stay in Rome, from 1687 to 1692, that he reached the height of his career, thanks also to the setting with Roman ruins in the background, as confirmed by the presence of various works in the main houses of the Roman aristocracy.

To be hung from this work, another painting by Van Bloemen is available, of equal size from the same subject, as well as from the same stylistic and compositional characteristics.

This beautiful canvas, which is an interesting addition to the catalog of the works of the Flemish master, depicts a daily scene between ancient buildings at Campovaccino, in which the vestiges of the basilica of Constantine and Santa Francesca Romana are recognized, of which the left corner is visible.

The Roman setting is typical of the works of Pieter van Bloemen, in which it is not so much the archaeological spirit to do as much as the will to recreate an atmosphere, majestic and humble at the same time, in what Busiri Vici calls the "most happy combination of a solemn romance with that almost country sense ".

The great success and diffusion that Van Bloemen's subjects had in Italy is attested by the corpus of his paintings preserved in museums and private collections. An autograph replica of our painting is kept at the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire in Lille, together with the pendant depicting the Tempest of Vesta (see Busiri Vici 1981, pp. 111-114, ill. 9-10). Another editorial of the same subject appeared recently on the market in Amsterdam (canvas, 85.3 x 120.4 cm; Christie's, November 16, 2005, lot 93); it presents variants in the architecture of the background, as well as in the figures and animals.

Pieter is clearly linked to the Flemish language, while proving to be Italian in the type of landscape and stylistic conduct. He prefers scenery of countryside with ancient ruins that are the backdrop to simple daily activities: horses to drink, laborers to work, rest of hikers at inns, markets.

The interest for animals emerges from the constant presence, as well as of horses, of goats, oxen, small crouching dogs, which in fact also provide protagonists occupying the first floor band, according to a rather usual compositional scheme in Van Bloemen.

[GIANCARLO SESTIERI]

For any information, you are welcome to contact us.