Offered by Antichità Castelbarco
Giuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari (Rome 1654–1727)
Venus with Adonis and Cupid
Oil on canvas 41 x 49 cm - with frame 58 x 65 cm
The delightful subject of the painting on display here is taken from numerous classical sources, including the poem Metamorphoses, in which the Latin poet Ovid recounts the passion between Venus, goddess of beauty and love, and the beautiful mortal Adonis.
Madly in love with her beloved, thanks to the help of an arrow shot by Cupid, the goddess decided to follow the handsome hunter on his hunt, no longer caring about her charms and her usual occupations.
Despite Venus' constant exhortations to be careful during the hunt, one day the proud Adonis unfortunately met his death, wounded in the leg by a wild boar. The painting does not depict the tragic ending of the story but the moments leading up to it, with Adonis determined to leave despite Venus's languid embrace and Cupid's futile attempts to hold him back.
The goddess is depicted in a classical style, semi-nude with only a drape covering her pubic area. The painting, of particular quality and beauty, dates back to the early 18th century in Rome and is traditionally attributed to Giuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari (Rome 1654-1727), or, for the sake of caution, to an artist working in his prolific workshop.
It is a typical composition of his, exhibiting a measured balance and majestic classicism, where the influences absorbed from Carlo Maratti, his teacher in Rome, are clearly evident. Upon the death of his master in 1713, he became his official heir, both in terms of his close correspondence in painting style and the success he achieved among the great Roman collectors.
Already highly regarded at the end of the 17th century, Giuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari established himself as a painter for the most influential families: notable commissions include two frescoes for the Barberini family (depicting the Sun Chariot and the Birth of Pindar in their palace) and a ceiling with the apotheosis of Marcantonio II Colonna for the Colonna family.
Delevery information :
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Should you have the desire to see this or other works in person, we would be happy to welcome you to our gallery in Riva del Garda, Viale Giuseppe Canella 18, we are always open by appointment only.
