The 2nd November is anticipated to be a challenging date for San Marco auction house as in the same day it will be holding two auction sessions: paintings by antique masters at 3.30pm and furniture, art objects, sculptures from the apartment of an American gentleman in Venice and from other customers at 4.30pm. Rare pieces and masterpieces of extraordinary beauty will attract art experts, lovers and antique dealers to Palazzo Giovanelli, venue of the event.
The 65 paintings put up for auction include canvases by important masters such as Gianbattista Tiepolo, Francesco Bassano, Francesco Guardi, Antonio Balestra and Jann Richter. Common denominator for many of these works is not only their undisputed prestige, but also a highly deserved six-figure estimated value. Only on request, and left to our imagination, is the estimated value of “Veduta del forte di S.Andrea nella laguna di Venezia” (View of the fort of S. Andrea in the Venice lagoon) by Francesco Guardi. The canvas is one of the highest pictorial expressions of Guardi’s mature period, which reflects his desire to celebrate the fascination of the lagoon, breaking away from Canaletto’s stylistic figure, however. The landscape has its solid and recognisable points of reference in the fort situated on the right side of the composition and St. Nicolò’s church on the left side, which frame an extensive view, and it seems to be portrayed from a boat. A pictorial script which is more evocative than descriptive, the drawing up of light and almost indicative matter, the swarm of small figures that animate the composition and a preference for the most secluded and least known places of the Venetian lagoon are all elements that together confirm the late realisation of this canvas. Similarly, Guardi’s other canvas put up for auction belongs to his mature period, “Incendio di un castello sulla riva del mare” (Castle on fire on the seashore), a small jewel, 26×43 cm large in which an estimate of 200,000-250,000 euros is concentrated. Even in this case both the delicate teeming touch and the subject chosen by the artist indicate that the painting dates from the end of the painter’s activity.
Another Venetian artist will certainly magnetise the public’s attention at Palazzo Giovanelli: Francesco Bassano with “il Ratto delle Sabine” (The abduction of the Sabine Women), probably realised between 1580 and 1590, which has an estimate of 450,000-550,000 euros. Francesco Bassano, son of Jacopo Bassano, brought up painting in a family composed of various artists, ventures here with one of the most ancient episodes passed down from Titus Livy. In this work Francesco Bassano shows an affinity with his father’s style. The compositional structure is complex and skilfully orchestrated: the pronounced details, the choice of chromatic range and the crowding of human figures, organised in an almost vortical movement generated by the horse on the right, suggest the idea of decay, of tragedy in action.
Even Antonio Balestra is close to classicism with the two paintings “Achille consegna alla famiglia il corpo di Ettore” (Achilles hands Hector’s body to his family) and “il Ratto di Europa” (The abduction of Europe), estimated at 300-350,000 euros. The Veronese artist was a disciple of Maratta first and Annibale Carracci after, from whom he absorbed that Emilian imprint that characterises these two gems In particular, Hector’s body seems to bear the influence of Carracci, the figure lying on the ground attracts the attention due to the “backstage” represented by the figures on the right and on the left which leave a dramatic void in the middle, fulcrum of the scene, dazzled by light and red. The rigour, the composure of the framework, the pretentious gestural expressiveness of the protagonists and the thematic choices are an evident evocation of the academic and classicist style. Venetian art is also protagonist at the auction dedicated to paintings with the exceptional presence of a small oil on canvas, 28×40 cm, by Tiepolo estimated at 250-280,000 euros. The canvas portraying “Rebecca at the well” is considered a first attempt to realise a larger canvas; furthermore, the lively emphasis on colour which characterises it shows an affinity with the distinctive traits of canvases realised between the late Thirties and the early Forties of the eighteenth century. Naturally, besides the exceptional pieces just mentioned other paintings and stunning objects will be auctioned at more contained prices.
On the other hand, for people interested in furniture and gift goods and who wish to indulge in their fancies and buy nifty and rare pieces, San Marco is also proposing in its selection of lots truly unique pieces with a reserved estimated value: for those who have princely tastes there is a royal Louis XV car richly decorated with drawings by Vanvitelli, or a splendid oriental screen, entirely painted, of large dimensions (280×540 cm), a couple of vase/candle-holder sculptures portraying two American-Indian servants realised by a Venetian sculptor, and finally a rare eighteenth-century chest of drawers and dressing table, which are beautifully shaped and manufactured. Other less pretentious requests can be satisfied by interesting lots for different pockets, even starting from 80-100 euros.
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(translated by Giorgina Arcuri)
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