Large still life painting, Italian School, oil on canvas, 18th century

This monumental architectural painting depicts a stone fountain topped by a large bronze basin, from which an impressive floral arrangement unfurls. The ground is strewn with grapes, peaches and a pumpkin, symbolizing fertility and abundance. In the background, a décor of ancient ruins unfolds, with classical architectural elements lending an enigmatic atmosphere to this work. Finally, in the last shot, a wooded landscape with cypress trees reminiscent of Tuscany and a mountain in the distance. Above this luxuriant scene, a blue sky dotted with clouds ranging from grey to golden unfolds and illuminates the entire scene. Stylistically, this painting is in line with certain Italian still lifes of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. It probably comes from the workshop of an Italian master who understood the appeal of Dutch and Flemish works such as those by the artist Gaspar Pieter Verbruggen Le Jeune (1664-1730). One of these masters was Orsola Maddalena Caccia (1596-1676), considered a pioneer of still-life painting in Italy. In its pictorial style and choice of subject, the painting is also reminiscent of the works of Neapolitan painter Gasparo Lopez dei Fiori, who distinguished himself by his often redundant compositions of flowers, most often placed outdoors, in elaborate contexts rich in naturalistic and architectural elements. This majestic painting comes from the private collection of a renowned family, and was displayed in one of the family’s villas in Cannes on the Côte d’Azur in France. The painting is presented in a 19th-century gilded wooden frame, a fitting piece to adorn large walls: a classic, elegant setting that we never tire of admiring. Dimensions of unframed canvas : Height : 123 cm Width : 187 cm