Workshop of Antoine Caron, Massacre Ordered by the Triumvirs, 17th Century, Oil Painting on Panel, Framed

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Antoine caron (beauvais, 1521 - paris, 1599) workshop

massacre ordered by the triumvirs

oil on panel (48 x 77 cm … Read more Antoine caron (beauvais, 1521 - paris, 1599) workshop

massacre ordered by the triumvirs

oil on panel (48 x 77 cm - framed 71 x 100 cm)

the intriguing painting under study here depicts the "massacre ordered by the triumvirs" and is a work attributed to the studio of antoine caron (beauvais, 1521 - paris, 1599), or to a member of his close circle. Caron was a leading artist of the school of fontainebleau and court painter of the valois dynasty, collaborating closely with queen catherine de' medici.

the work is set in rome in 43 bc, during the persecutions waged by the second roman triumvirate, led by octavian (the future augustus), mark antony, and marcus aemilius lepidus. They were responsible for the deaths of political opponents to consolidate their rule. They unleashed a veritable massacre, killing approximately 300 senators and over 2,000 knights; among the most famous victims was the orator and philosopher cicero, assassinated by mark antony's henchmen.

the interesting aspect is the contemporary interpretation of the author's time: it is, in fact, an allegory of the tragic situation in 16th-century france during the french wars of religion, alluding to the persecution of huguenot protestants during the reign of henry ii of france.

the parallel between ancient rome and contemporary france is evident in the "triumvirate" evoked by caron, which harks back to the three main french catholic figures—anne de montmorency, francis of guise, and jacques d'albon—or the catholic triumvirate, responsible for sparking a series of bloody conflicts.

let's now delve into the complex composition: we are in the midst of the turmoil of a city in turmoil, with soldiers attacking citizens in a square, scenes of violence near a well, and smoke in the background.

the entire scene is constructed as a succession of tragic episodes: beheadings, dragged bodies, supplicating women, murdered children, soldiers beating prisoners.

the elongated and theatrical human figures are fully in keeping with the mannerist culture of the school of fontainebleau, highlighted by the bright colors of their robes—red, blue, and yellow—that contrast with the pallor of the lifeless bodies.

we can easily recognize the triumvirs in the center, seated on a raised platform, coldly and detachedly watching the massacre unfold before their eyes. At the foot of the platform are bags of coins, symbolizing the rewards for assassins and informers, while the severed heads of the victims are brought before the rulers.

the architectural setting for the scene is fascinating: the violence unfolds in an idealized rome reconstructed through ancient monuments and architecture inspired by the engravings in the speculum romanae magnificentiae, published by antonio lafreri around 1550.

the contrast between the geometric precision of the urban setting and the chaos of the massacre creates a tragic and apocalyptic atmosphere, and the influence of italian mannerism is evident, especially in the theatricality of the poses and the spatial construction.

the theme of the triumvirate massacre, which enjoyed great popularity in the 16th century, was revisited by caron on numerous occasions: the most famous painting is undoubtedly the signed one preserved in the louvre, dated 1566, although there is also a second version, dated around 1562, housed in the musée départemental de l'oise.

our composition, which represents a compositional variant, is found in a famous engraving by jean de gourmont, based on exactly the same compositional model, held at the bibliothèque nationale de france (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b53128809x.item ), which is thought to be based on a lost prototype by caron himself.

although rare, some works attributed to caron or his workshop can be found on the antiques market. Below are some examples:

image 1 - circle of a. Caron, christie's london, december 7, 2023, lot 39, https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6452027
image 2 - workshop of a. Caron, dorotheum vienna, october 21, 2014, lot 281, https://www.dorotheum.com/en/l/3376601/
image 3 - follower of a. Caron, christie's south kensington, march 29, 2017, lot 8
image 4 - follower of a. Caron, sotheby's london, november 1, 2007, lot 28 https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2007/old-master-paintings-l07727/lot.28.html

additional information:

the work comes with a beautiful gilded frame, a certificate of authenticity, and a descriptive iconographic sheet. 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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