(Milan active 1690–1730)
A peacock, pigeons, ducks and rabbits in an idealised landscape; and
A heron and ducks near a pond,
oil on canvas, 254 x 116 cm and 240 x 97 cm, framed, a pair (2)

Provenance:
Aristocratic collection, since the late 19th century

We are grateful to Gianluca Bocchi for endorsing the attribution of the present paintings on the basis of photographs.

Angelo Maria Crivelli, known as il Crivellone, to distinguish him from his son Giovanni, il Crivellino was an artist considered to be one of the most significant still life painters of his time. According to the biographer, Antonio Orlandi, il Crivellone could see ‘Truth before his eyes, more than Nature itself’ (see A. Orlandi, Abecedario pittorico del M. R. P. Pellegrino Antonio Orlandi, bolognese, contenente le notizie de’ professori di pittura, scoltura, ed architettura, Venice 1753, p. 60).

Born in Milan in the second half of the seventeenth century, il Crivellone is documented between 1662 and 1730; he worked at the court of Parma (see op. cit. Orlandi 1753, p. 60) and specialised in the representation of animals, influenced by the works of Flemish artists including Hondecoeter, Weenix, Snyders and Fyt and his still life paintings are characterised by refined and precise, yet lively brushstrokes. His oeuvre shows the reiteration of similar subjects with variations, such as the present works, which are significant examples of his corpus.