Andrea Scacciati, Flowers Still Life, 1600s, Oil on Canvas, Framed

Details

Description

Andrea scacciati (florence 1642–1710) (link)

flower composition in an embossed vase (3 of 3)

oil on canvas
130 x 90 … Read more Andrea scacciati (florence 1642–1710) (link)

flower composition in an embossed vase (3 of 3)

oil on canvas
130 x 90 cm - in an antique frame 145 x 105 cm.

this work is accompanied by an expert opinion from prof. Emilio negro.

an antique frame, with defects and losses. The painting is in good condition, with old restorations and an old surface layer of varnish, partially oxidized.

this important still life—of which two additional copies are possibly available—shows a lush bouquet of numerous botanical varieties, delicately depicted through a rich blend of impasto and color, gathered within an embossed metal vase resting on a square stand.

given its large size and the fact that it is part of a series, our work was certainly commissioned to decorate a patrician palace: it was indeed customary, in large state rooms or in the long corridors connecting the various wings of palaces, to adorn the most important walls with series of works specially commissioned according to the tastes of the noble owners.

the painting, dating to the late 17th century, exhibits characteristics distinctly from the tuscan school and is attributed to the florentine andrea scacciati (florence 1642–1710), a leading figure, along with bartolomeo bimbi, of this pictorial genre in florence during the late baroque period.

andrea scacciati is considered the protagonist of the revival of the florentine still life in the baroque style, a century that marked the golden age of this figurative genre. During the 17th century, still life established itself as a genre in its own right, and all its inherent potential—in terms of visual impact, descriptive precision, compositional skill, and symbolic density—reached unsurpassed fulfillment.

in the late 1560s, the artist opened a workshop that was entrusted with numerous commissions from the royal house and various noble families. Much beloved by the medici and tuscany's most renowned patrician families, he created works of the highest stylistic quality, primarily dedicated to floral compositions, crafted with expert pictorial skill and enhanced by unique chromatic effects.

his canvases were especially sought after by grand duchess vittoria della rovere and grand duke cosimo iii, and were destined for the villa dell'ambrogiana.

regarding his stylistic characteristics, his descriptive formula is imbued with an original eclecticism, borrowed primarily from his knowledge of 17th-century flemish and dutch painting and the refinement of the roman floral compositions of the celebrated mario nuzzi, better known as mario de' fiori.

the compositional style and the chiseled metal vase hark back to the artist's late period. Numerous elements typical of the painter are evident in our still life, including the almost geometric balance of the flower arrangement and the varied chromaticism in depicting the different botanical species, created with variety and elegance, enhanced by the dark background.

additional information:

the painting is completed by a gilded wooden frame and comes with a certificate of authenticity and guarantee. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



issues arising from misattribution See less