Pier Francesco Garola, Architectural Capriccio Landscape, 1700, Oil on Canvas

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Pier francesco garola (turin 1638 - rome 1716)

architectural capriccio with coastal view

oil on canvas (74 x 99 cm … Read more Pier francesco garola (turin 1638 - rome 1716)

architectural capriccio with coastal view

oil on canvas (74 x 99 cm - framed 87 x 112 cm)

reference literature: g. Sestieri, architectural capriccio in italy in the 17th and 18th centuries, foligno, 2015, ii (pp. 62-81).
this canvas, a beautiful example of architectural fantasy, is a work of excellent quality by the late baroque painter pietro francesco garola (turin 1638 - rome 1716), a leading figure in the depiction of roman ruins and fantastical architecture, known as "capricci." this fascinating and evocative painting offers a typical example of his imaginative views, showing the façade of an imposing classical palace, of italian inspiration and with imposing marble columns, seen from an angle that extends the scene through an elegant panorama that opens onto a suggestive coastal view.

our work, likely executed in the final decade of the 17th century, is conceived with a theatrical sensibility, where the monumental palace and the distant view seem part of a single scenic structure, with the figures portrayed in oriental-style clothing resembling real theater actors.

his mastery of perspective, his skillful rendering of structural decorations, and his intense use of chiaroscuro are the elements that made him extremely famous, lending his works a great compositional elegance, which also characterizes the present painting.

supporting this attribution are several works published by giancarlo sestieri in the volumes on architectural capriccio published in 2015 (shown in the detailed photos), such as the pendant attributed to pier francesco garola, formerly at the padua galleria antiquaria g. Morosini, depicting 'architectural capricci with stories of david'. Although they present a complex composition, numerous compositional details are found in the painting under consideration (ii, p. 80, figs. 26 a-b). Furthermore, we see close stylistic similarities with the "view of the piazza del campidoglio in rome" (christie's, london, april 22, 1994, lot 244) and the "capriccio with classical buildings and the triumph of david," also published by senstieri (vol. Ii, p. 70, fig. 13 and p. 71, fig. 14b, respectively).

his works are held at the galleria sabaudia in turin, the pinacoteca del museo civico ala ponzone in cremona, the galleria pallavicini, the galleria spada, and the galleria dell'accademia nazionale di san luca in rome, as well as in many other prestigious public and private collections.

additional information:

the work is sold complete with an antique 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



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