Offered by Antichità Castelbarco
Francesco Fontebasso (Venice 1709 – Venice 1769)
Alexander the Great Shows Mercy to the Persians
Oil on canvas 108 x 153 cm. - Framed 120 x 164 cm.
Highly captivating due to its intriguing subject matter, this beautiful painting draws inspiration from the tales of conquest of the great Alexander the Great, depicted as he grants clemency to a general of the defeated Persian army.
Looking closely at the refined composition, Alexander is depicted standing with a triumphant air, fully aware of his glory, as he grants mercy to the people of Persia, symbolically represented here by two opposing soldiers—one kneeling in submission and the other standing as a prisoner.
Noteworthy are the details of their armor, featuring lion heads—a traditional Persian symbol—alongside the characteristic long sabers.
Historically, we know that the Battle of Issus (333 BC) definitively gave Alexander control of the greatest empire ever created, forcing Darius III to flee and causing panic among the Persian troops, who decided to defect to Alexander’s side, pleading for his mercy.
Alexander treated them with respect and, after making them swear allegiance, incorporated them into his army, though always asserting his own dominance: our artist has immortalized this moment.
This is a work of great merit, executed by an 18th-century Venetian painter and specifically attributed to Francesco Fontebasso (Venice, 1709–1769), an artist who tackled this theme on several occasions and was a leading figure in the extraordinary artistic era of 18th-century Venice.
He trained in the workshop of Sebastiano Ricci, followed by stays in Bologna and Rome; upon his return to Venice, he was captivated by the impetuous chiaroscuro effects of the young Giambattista Tiepolo, whose influence would be evident throughout his entire body of work.
In this work, Fontebasso presents us with a piece that is deeply emotionally engaging, both for the magnificence of the painting and for the subject matter. The subject, in fact, reveals the magnanimity and clemency of the sovereign, who often treated his conquered enemies with the utmost respect.
The true poetry of the painting lies in the mastery the artist displays in the descriptive details, evoking in the viewer a sense of profound admiration, captivated by the virtuosity of the technique, the profusion of details, and the exceptional richness of the rendering of the uniform details, executed with great skill. Good condition. Re-framed.
The paint is in excellent condition, with some scattered old restorations on the surface.
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.
