Michele Pace, Detto Michelangelo Del Campidoglio, Cerchia Di, Still Life with Fruit Peace, 1680, Oil on Canvas

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Description

Michele pace, known as michelangelo del campidoglio (rome, 1625 - 1669), circle of
still life with fruit
roman school, second … Read more Michele pace, known as michelangelo del campidoglio (rome, 1625 - 1669), circle of
still life with fruit
roman school, second half of the 17th century
oil on canvas (72 x 96 cm - framed 87 x 112 cm)

full painting details (click here)

this splendid composition, emblematic of roman baroque still life painting of the mid-17th century, highlights a rich variety of autumn fruits, picked at their peak ripeness.

on the right, a split watermelon half stands out, revealing its red pulp and numerous dark seeds, alongside pomegranates, revealing their shiny red seeds. Next to them is a dense, compact bunch of white grapes and, just below, small black grapes. On the left, ripe, open figs with velvety skin, garlic, and other small berries are visible, followed by a characteristic ribbed pumpkin decorated with dark streaks.

the scene is completed by vine branches, topped by a bamboo pole that crosses the composition diagonally, inserted to give depth to the perspective, both as a reference to the rural setting and to the open-air harvest.

the work is characterized by a strong caravaggesque lighting design, with the completely dark background allowing the raking light to highlight the volumes, the different surfaces of the peels, and the vibrant colors of the fruit, lending the whole a strong sense of realism and plasticity.

in particular, the characteristics of the work, which by style and composition is unequivocally attributed to the roman school, lead us to consider the name of michele pace (rome, 1625–1669) as the primary reference. This roman painter, known as michelangelo del campidoglio, was known for his scenic construction, exuberant paint layers, and his rendering of the textures of the various types of fruit.

the lack of signed works from the campidoglio makes it difficult to place his paintings in chronological order: born in rome, he spent most of his career there, except for a few brief stays in naples, where he came into contact with the works of abraham brueghel (1631–1690), from whom he drew clear pictorial motifs.

the influence of other masters of the still life genre active in rome during the same period is evident, however, and explains the attributional difficulties scholars often face. In our case, the painting also clearly reveals stylistic similarities with some works by two other specialists, the more famous bartolomeo castelli the younger (rome 1696-1738) and michelangelo cerquozzi (rome 1602-1660).

in seventeenth-century rome, the attribution of still lifes clashes with a dense network of collaborations, workshop exchanges, and stylistic similarities between the aforementioned artists.

in our specific case, the distinctive feature of this work—and of the campidoglio's stylistic signature—is the presentation of fruit at its peak and full ripeness, for example, the half watermelon on the right and the pomegranates in the center, which are split open from the inside.

this choice is not only aesthetically pleasing (allowing the painter to showcase the juicy pulp and meticulous texture of the black seeds and kernels), but also carries a powerful allegorical meaning tied to the concept of vanitas: the ephemeral beauty of nature captured an instant before its inevitable decline.

additional information:

the work comes complete with a beautiful gilded wooden frame and 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