Francesco SOLIMENA (Naples 1657-1747)Self-portraitCuivreRestaurants... Lot 13

Francesco SOLIMENA (Naples 1657-1747)Self-portraitCuivreRestaurants anciennesSelf-portrait, copper9 x 7 CM - 3 1/2 x 2 3/4 in. A great representative of Neapolitan Baroque painting, Francesco Solimena was first influenced by Luca Giordano's painting, before turning to the pictorial style of Dominiquin and Guido Reni, marked by a striking classicism. Painting decorations, frescoes and church vaults in the Parthenopian city, he also painted a number of portraits, thus contributing to the synthesis of Neapolitan traditions . This self-portrait, whose attitude is both simple and refined, recalls several of the artist's compositions. The colour palette highlighted by a turquoise blue tonic blends perfectly with the creamy texture of brownish fur . The artist, here, in the prime of her life, is known by another, older representation, preserved in Naples at the Museo di Capodimonte. If he does indeed wear a wig, by its simple representation, the painter seems to reveal his intimacy. It should be noted, however, that the dimensions are unusual in the artist's work. We thank Professor Nicola Spinosa for authenticating the painting and providing us with his identity based on an examination of a digital photograph. It dates the artist's painting of his youth.