Antonio Balestra, Lot n° 314

ALEXANDER THE GREAT Mourns THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER, KING PHILIPP II Oil on canvas. Doubled. 143 x 175 cm. In decorative frame. Alexander the Great in golden breastplate and helmet, with a red cloak over the shoulders. He looks in horror at the pale lifeless body of a half-naked man wearing a crown on his head. This could be his murdered father, King Philip II. Alexander looks down with blushed cheeks and sad eyes on the man lying on the ground, supported by another man. Two other kneeling persons point to the dead man on the ground, looking directly at Alexander. In the right background, a large, rearing white horse can be seen, which could be Alexander's horse, Bucephalus. On the right side of the picture, a soldier with helmet, shield and large lance is approaching. Painting in restrained colours, in which, however, Alexander is particularly emphasized by his shiny, bright clothing. Minor retouching. In addition to style and colouring, the artist's style is also reflected in the way the man lying on the ground is depicted, with a free upper body and partly bent arms. Similar depictions can be found several times in paintings by the artist, for example in the painting "The dead Abel". (1221803) (3) (18) Antonio Balestra, 1666 Verona - 1740 ibid., attributed ALEXANDER THE GREAT MOURNING THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER KING PHILIPP II Oil on canvas. Relined. 143 x 175 cm. In decorated frame. Alexander the Great is depicted in golden breastplate and helmet with red cloak draped over his shoulders. Apart from the style and colour scheme, the manner in which the figure lying on the ground is depicted is typical for the artist with a bare upper body and partly bent arms. The artist has repeatedly painted similar depictions, for example in a painting titled The Dead Abel.