Oil on canvas

70 x 150 cm.

Framed: 82 x 162 cm.

The subject of this work is captivating and rich in allegorical meaning, whispering of life’s fragility through the contrast between the sweetness of childhood and the austerity of the objects surrounding it.

At the centre of the scene, a small sleeping child — a cupid or perhaps an allegory of childhood — rests deeply: he is the image of absolute peace, oblivious to the passing of time, yet surrounded by symbols that remind us of its fleeting nature.

The painting is therefore a triumph of details that compose a refined ‘Vanitas’, a term denoting a genre of still life, prevalent mainly during the Baroque period, which symbolises the transience of earthly pleasures, inviting the observer to contemplate the inexorable passing of time.

Whilst the child dreams, the world around him speaks of the beauty and brevity of existence, and thus the violin and the lush bouquet of flowers represent the pleasures of the senses: the melody that fades as soon as it is played and the petals that wither. The scene continues with the large globe and the two hourglasses, alluding to the vastness of the world and the smallness of man in the face of time, whilst the ripe fruits, here pomegranates, remind us of the transience of life and its riches.

The atmosphere is intimate, almost twilight-like, with the light caressing the child’s golden curls and making the gold threads of the cushions shimmer, leaving the background in a deep, mysterious shadow. This interplay of contrasts not only creates depth but imbues every object with an almost theatrical tension.

Given the compositional style and formal choices, our canvas is likely to be attributed to the Roman milieu of the seventeenth century, specifically to an artist associated with the painter Antonio Tibaldi (Rome, c. 1635 – documented until 1675), a talented follower of Francesco Fieravino, known as ‘il Maltese’, and therefore a highly regarded painter of still lifes similar to those of his master.

Tibaldi worked mainly in Rome, where his presence and the fame he achieved are attested by the many works attributed to him in recent times. In these works, he adapted the Maltese’s pictorial style into a personal, delicate and subtle creativity; these canvases, very similar to ours, were housed in the most important public and private collections, such as those of the Albani, Barberini, Chigi and Colonna families.

It is also true that the Roman master’s paintings influenced the development of numerous still-life painters both in Italy and across Europe; thus, the importance of Tibaldi as a link between Italian still life and that of the countries beyond the Alps is becoming increasingly clear.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The painting is sold complete with an attractive wooden frame and is 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 and insured carriers.

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