Offered by Antichità Castelbarco
Gian Domenico Ferretti (Florence 1692–1768)
The Triumph of Neptune and Amphitrite
oil on canvas 47 x 132 cm - In an antique frame (minor flaws) 56 x 142 cm.
Expert opinion: Prof. UGO RUGGERI (Venice)
The painting depicts the maritime triumph of one of the most famous divine couples in classical mythology, Neptune and Amphitrite—the god of the sea and his wife, respectively—the splendid sea nymph, daughter of Nereus and Doris, consecrated as queen of the sea.
Neptune is immortalized in a beautiful, majestic pose, dominating the center of the scene as he stands atop a large seashell that serves as his chariot; he is depicted with a vigorous physique as he proudly wields his trident.
His figure is highlighted by the dynamic twist with which he turns toward the nymph, who is reclining on her left side; she, too, is portrayed with her torso leaning toward her consort, completely nude as she holds a shell containing a pearl and, in her other hand, a fragment of red coral—a typical attribute of marine deities.
Celebrating the marine procession are two mighty Tritons playing music: one swims vigorously, holding two bivalve shells as if they were cymbals, while another blows into a large, twisted conch shell—a classic iconographic element used to calm the waves.
The work, as confirmed by Professor Ugo Ruggieri in his study, is attributed to the Florentine artist Gian Domenico Ferretti (Florence 1692–1768), a leading figure of 18th-century Florence and a favorite of the Tuscan nobility for decorating the rooms of their private residences.
The painter tackled themes of marine mythology on several occasions, and this painting is part of his body of work consisting of medium-sized room paintings and sketches, intended for the private art collections of the era’s collectors, where the painter could express his narrative flair with greater freedom.
The composition faithfully reflects these formal characteristics, such as the emphatic, almost choreographic gestures of his figures, as well as the anatomical rendering of the bodies, marked by rippling musculature and defined by bold shading.
The composition’s strong point is undoubtedly its vibrant color palette, with its sharp contrasts between the warm, almost burnished tones of the flesh and the cool tones of the leaden sea and the stormy sky in the background.
Not to mention the emphasis added to the composition by the drapery of the two protagonists—bright red for Amphitrite and iridescent blue for Neptune—which enliven the composition and guide the viewer’s eye through the undulating movement.
A specific point of reference for our canvas, as highlighted in Ruggieri’s critical study, can be found in particular in the work of the same subject from the famous Molinari Pradelli Collection at Villa Marana in Marano di Castenaso (M. Gregori, *70 Paintings and Sculptures of the Florentine Seventeenth Century*, exhibition catalog, Florence 1965, p. 63, no. 49), which shares its compositional structure, the exuberant power of its sculptural and dynamic composition, and specific details in the selection of figures. Giovan Domenico Ferretti, Neptune and Amphitrite (detail) Molinari Pradelli Collection, Bologna
Delevery information :
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