(Settignano/Florence 1648-1730 Florence)
A still life of citrus fruit and flowers in an elaborately decorated and gilded vase,
oil on canvas, 135.2 x 97.4 cm, framed

We are grateful to Alberto Cottino for confirming the attribution of the present painting. A certificate, dating 20 July 2015, is available.

According to Cottino the present painting is a work of a highly complex and virtuous handling of light. The juxtaposition of light and shadow is shown in innumerable reflections and contrasts, highlighted by a fluent and vigorously thick impasto handling, resulting in a remarkable, almost illusionistic three- dimensionality of the flowers. It is a soft and gentle light, but not devoid of a naturalistic intention, that enlightens the foreground of the composition, bathing the petals of the carnations and other flowers as well as the surface of the lemons in an iridescent glow. The fresh and juicy slices of the lemons are rendered with a great naturalism. The flowers to the background of the composition appear to be covered by a thin veil of dim light. Whilst the scene may appear to be simply arranged, upon closer inspection the very complex nature of the composition is revealed, which before the dark background, focuses on the revived element of the single vase, a motif established several decades earlier by Carlo dei Fiori in Rome. As Cottino states the naturalism of the present work demonstrates the influence of northern still life painting, examples of which the artist undoubtedly had been able to study at the Medici court. The Grand ducal collections also contained a large number of watercolours and engravings with naturalistic motifs, and the knowledge of these surely formed part of the artist’s iconographic repertoire.