Lot 85
** A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this artwork will be donated to the Anthony Quinn Foundation, whose mission is to advocate for the important role arts education plays in personal development and in the overall improvement of social, economic and cultural systems. Learn more at aqfoundation.org **
Western Europe, probably Italy, ca. 17th century CE. A lovely reverse glass painting depicting a nude man being covered in a red cloak by a cherubic male child known as a putto, all set in a modern gilt wood frame. Lying semi-recumbent with his head bowed as though unconscious, the top portion of the man is positioned in a pose evocative of a Descent from the Cross scene with biceps held perpendicular to the body and forearms hanging free, while his lower half draws from Classical sculpture in a Michelangelesque manner with a contorted midsection suggestive of the Belvedere torso and folded legs to his side, reminiscent of a Roman River God. The putto sits slightly above him in a figura serpentinata position, as his legs bend to his right and his upper body twists to his left. Nude, the child lifts the cloak above the shoulders of his companion with his right hand. Size (glass): 7.5" W x 4.8" H (19 cm x 12.2 cm); (frame): 11.8" W x 8.8" H (30 cm x 22.4 cm)
All delineated in red, blue, peach, yellow, and other vibrant hues, the elegant scene serves as a fine example of a reverse glass painting highly influenced by styles of Classical Antiquity and the Italian Renaissance.
Reverse glass painting, also known as "verre eglomise" in French or "Hinterglasmalerei" in German, is a centuries-old practice of painting a piece of glass and then viewing it from the other side. This causes the artist to have to think in reverse and start with the details of the painting before adding larger blocks of color. The practice has been widely used for sacral paintings since the Medieval period. Most famous for the reverse glass paintings of the Byzantine Empire, the practice then spread to Venice, where it influenced Renaissance art, and became favored by the Church and nobility throughout Central Europe. It continued as a widely popular folk art through the 19th century.
Provenance: ex-private collection of actor Anthony Quinn and his wife Katherine, Bristol, Rhode Island, USA acquired prior to 2000
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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#169239
- Condition: Chipping and losses to paint in areas. Otherwise, very nice with vibrant colors. Fit with modern gilt wood and stucco frame.
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