Elena Recco, Still Lifes with Fish and Shellfish, 1690, Oil on Canvas, Set of 2

Details

Description

Elena recco (naples, 1654 - 1700) attributed to

pair of still lifes with fish and shellfish

oil on canvas (72 … Read more Elena recco (naples, 1654 - 1700) attributed to

pair of still lifes with fish and shellfish

oil on canvas (72 x 96 cm - framed 85 x 108 cm)

provenance (see details in the 5th published photo):
- finarte, milan, 23 october 2007, lot 517, estimate: €18,000 - €20,000 (page 189 of the catalog)
- ponte, milan, 09 june 2009, lot 144, estimate: €15,000 - €16,000

refined pair of still lifes depicting compositions of fish, shellfish, and fish, arranged in a shaded setting, with a wide open landscape in the background.

the works are distinguished by their evocative use of light, playing on deep chiaroscuro contrasts, and by the careful naturalistic rendering of the different fish species, characterized by brilliant silvery reflections and a remarkable textural quality.

the canvases, which show clear affinities with the neapolitan still life tradition that developed between the late 17th and early 18th centuries, are traditionally attributed to elena recco (naples 1654 – madrid 1715), one of the most important painters of the neapolitan school, renowned for her extraordinary expertise in fish still lifes.

born into an artistic family—her father was the renowned maestro giuseppe recco—she developed a unique personal style, making her works easily recognizable by art experts. The theatrical arrangement of the catch, the dark, baroque atmosphere, and the luminous rendering of the surfaces recall the tradition inaugurated by her family, within which elena developed a personal pictorial sensibility, appreciated in the aristocratic collections of naples and rome.

a careful look at the two works under consideration here reveals all the distinctive characteristics of the artist's production: to achieve the chromatic rendering of the scales, her compositions feature typical gray-blue hues, while the bodies of the fish shimmer with silvery and metallic reflections, rendered with a textured pictorial layer.

in her paintings, the fish with their shiny scales and the details of the catch stand out theatrically against dark, atmospheric backgrounds, creating the typical dramatic contrast derived from the tradition of the southern caravaggesque school.

the quality of her work earned her an invitation from the spanish king to move to the court of madrid in 1695, an honor bestowed only on established artists. She worked there, receiving great honors and receiving important commissions.

today, her paintings are found in renowned collections such as the pushkin museum in moscow, the national museum in warsaw, and the federico zeri foundation catalog.

additional information:

the images were taken using a professional photographic set; therefore, the paintings may appear darker if not illuminated.

the paintings come with two attractive gilded frames and a certificate of authenticity and an iconographic . 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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