Offered by Antichità Castelbarco
Francesco Albani (1578 - 1660) Copy from
The Dance of the Cupids
Oil on panel
94 x 118 cm in a fine gilded and carved wooden frame 101 x 123
We see a festive dance of cherubs arranged in a circle around a tree, on which other cherubs play musical instruments, while in the foreground there are other objects, including bows and quivers, laid on the grass.
In the background on the left, we see the scene of a woman being kidnapped and dragged onto a chariot: this is precisely the abduction of Proserpina by Pluto who, madly in love, took her with him to the underworld to make her his bride.
On the right, among the clouds, Venus with a torch kisses Cupid, while below is the temple of Vesta, which still exists today in Rome, where the sacred fire was once kept. The painting is an interesting antique replica of the masterpiece by Francesco Albani, entitled “Danza degli amorini” (Dance of the Cupids) and dating from around 1660, currently housed in the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan (see image in the photographic details).
Known for his light and decorative representations of mythological and allegorical subjects, Francesco Albani is considered, together with Domenichino and Guido Reni, one of the leading exponents of Bolognese classicism and therefore extremely sought after by the cultured patrons of the time.
Thanks to a style characterised by idyllic compositions that appealed to the most intimate tastes of his patrons, works such as these have always enjoyed extraordinary critical and public acclaim, to the extent that they have been replicated many times.
The subject depicted was also in great demand in later periods due to its symbolic meaning of the triumph of Love: the painting is in fact an interesting allegory of marital union and must therefore have been commissioned within the Farnese family on the occasion of a wedding or a betrothal.
This is referred to by the cherubs who, having laid down the bows with which they make lovers fall in love, play happily because they have accomplished the mission assigned to them by Cupid: Pluto has fallen in love with Proserpina and kidnaps her as a sign of his uncontrollable love.
Finally, Venus rewards Cupid with a grateful kiss, while the temple of Vesta, where the hearth is always lit, wishes for the love to last forever.
Delevery information :
We take care of and organise the transport of the purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers.
We take great care We personally take care of the packaging, to which we devote a great deal of care: each work is carefully packed, first with arti- cle material, then with a custom-made wooden box.
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.
