Offered by Brozzetti Antichità
Giuseppe Zais (attr.) (Belluno, Italy, 1709 – Treviso, Italy 1784)
Pair of paintings with archaic Lanscapes
"Archaic landscape with female figures and a fisherman"
"Archaic landscape with horseback figure and beggars and architectural ruin (pyramid of Caio Cestio - Rome)"
Oil on canvas, cm H 70 x W 119; frame W 120 x H 81 x D 4
The couple of paintings depicting archaic landscapes can be attributed to the hand of the Venetian painter Giuseppe Zais (Belluno, Italy, 1709– Treviso, Italy, 1784). Zais was born in Forno di Canale, in the province of Belluno, on 22 March 1709. The few biographical information about the painter inform that after a short period of apprenticeship in Belluno, around 1725-1730 he moved to Venice, where he felt the influence of Marco Ricci’s painting (who was in Venice from 1717 until his death in 1729).
Especially the engravings of Ricci, published in 1730, become an important inspiration for Zais: from these derives the scenic format of the landscapes, framed by patches of trees with small villages, and the slender figures of peasants. The works of Zais stand out for their pleasant style and great descriptive power. Around 1730 Zais came into contact with Francesco Zuccarelli and his influence led to a softening of the style towards greater stylistic refinement. From 1748 to 1768 the artist is inscribed in the Venetian corporation of painters. Zais dies in Treviso on December 29, 1781.
The works presented here can be traced back to the painter’s youthful years. They are distinguished by the rocaille drawing, in particular by the brightness airy and the description of nature, made with loose and light brushstrokes.
Coeval carved and gilded wooden in a good state of conservation.
Are planned the restoration directed to the cleaning, for removal the varnish of finish visibly yellowed, in order to recover the light and the chromium which confers the full enjoyment aesthetics of the works.
Please contact us to have the complete expertise in Italian
