San Michele Arcangelo
Guido Reni (1575 - 1642) cerchia di
Guido Reni (1575 - 1642) circle of
Saint Michael the Archangel
Oil on canvas
Dimensions:
98 x 73 cm.
98 x 73 cm.
In antique frame 116 x 90 cm.
We are pleased to present an extremely beautiful work depicting the famous Saint Michael the Archangel painted by Guido Reni in 1635 for the Church of the Capuchins, in the heart of Via Veneto in Rome (see photo for details). The church was built thanks to a donation by Cardinal Antonio Barberini (1569-1646), brother of Urban VIII, in favour of the Capuchin friars. It was the cardinal himself who commissioned the altarpiece from Guido Reni, who, at the height of his maturity and artistic fame, had by then settled in Bologna, where he painted the canvas and sent it to Rome.
After a long and intense training in Bologna, in 1602, the painter, who was already working on his own, wanted to enrich his artistic experience by moving to Rome. He soon became famous in Roman circles as an interpreter of the tastes of the most culturally influential circles, winning the protection of great figures such as Popes Paul V, Urban VIII and Scipione Borghese.
The archangel Michael, engaged in the fight against evil, is depicted as a young man of rare beauty, strong and delicate at the same time, who, with his sword drawn, repels an angry devil back to hell, trampling on his head with his foot. Soft, colourful drapery envelops the angel's body in an intense classicism within a balanced composition that highlights the heavenly beauty of the angelic face.
The painting was greatly appreciated and admired by his contemporaries and was an immediate success, thanks in part to the controversy it aroused. Reni, having learned that Cardinal Giovanni Battista Pamphili, the future Pope Innocent X, had defamed him by denigrating some of his works, took revenge by portraying the Devil with the cardinal's face.
Reni's cunning was to exploit the historical rivalry between two of the most influential families in 17th-century Rome, the Barberini and the Pamphili, for his own personal revenge, while at the same time giving his work sudden fame.
Considering the period in which it was painted and its good quality, the canvas on offer is certainly the work of an artist active in Rome around the mid-17th century who was in close contact with Reni and knew his works well.
The work is in good condition with some restoration to the painted surface. The antique frame is in good condition with some defects.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The work sold comes with a certificate of authenticity and guarantee.
We take care of and organise the transport of the works purchased, both in Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. It is also possible to view the painting in the gallery in Riva del Garda, where we will be happy to welcome you and show you our collection of works.
Please contact us, without obligation, for any further information.
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