Attributable to Sinibaldo Scorza, Animals in Dark Background, Oil on Canvas

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Oil on canvas. Various animals are placed against a completely dark background: some game prey, namely four different birds hanging … Read more Oil on canvas. Various animals are placed against a completely dark background: some game prey, namely four different birds hanging by their legs or resting on a (almost invisible) surface and, on the same surface, three crouching rabbits and two walking birds. Live and dead animals are harmoniously arranged to mix together, and only careful observation allows us to recognize their vitality or the rigidity of death: it is the lively gaze of the eyes of rabbits and birds and the movement of the latter that identifies their vital state. The artist's technical skills stand out in the work, evident above all in the virtuosity of the brush in describing the anatomical particularities of the animals, with plumage, skin and fur well differentiated in detail. Of certain Genoese school, the work is attributable to Sinibaldo Scorza (1589 – 1631), a painter active in the city of Genoa, who specialized in the art of drawing, engraving and miniature of a naturalistic nature, with attention paid above all to animals. Scorza studied animals from life, making precise and detailed sketches and drawings, with an incredible ability to capture salient aspects from both a pictorial and scientific perspective, typical of the new interests of the time. Alongside his drawings, he also made detailed notes on his paper, such as the positions of their legs, the type and color of their fur, to name a few. Sinibaldo Scorza painted not only animals, but also a variety of subjects, including landscapes, mythological and genre scenes, and views and glimpses of the cities he visited. His naturalistic inclination was particularly strengthened by his contact with the great Flemish painters he met in Turin and then met again in Rome. All his works display a particular attention to the naturalistic aspect, captured in precise detail, with nature, trees, and various animals animating a landscape that can be Arcadian but always characterized by a strong taxonomic flavour. For Scorza (an avid reader with a vast literary culture), mythological tales and biblical or literary subjects provided a pretext for studying landscapes filled with animals, each characterized in detail. The painting presented here has previously undergone restoration and relining. It is presented in an antique frame. FINE ART 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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