Luca Giordano (1634–1705) Lot n° 26

The Naples-born Luca Giordano, a grand master of Italian high baroque, went through various phases in his fruitful career and took on many style influences. Initially influenced by Jusepe de Ribera without being his pupil. He went to Rome to study with Pietro da Cortona in 1652. He visited Venice several times and was inspired by Titian and Veronese. He carried out orders all over Italy. His painting shows Prometheus chained to the Caucasus, which an eagle sent by Jupiter gnaws at the liver as a punishment for Prometheus bringing fire to people. The subject was interpreted by many artists in the 16th and 17th centuries, and they were able to compete with the famous ancient statues of muscular heroes such as the Laocoon group or the Torso des Belvedere and their mastery in body reproduction and the representation of extreme ones to prove pain. Luca Giordano has dealt with the subject several times, for example in paintings in the Museum of Fine Arts Budapest (from around 1660) and, according to Nicola Spinosa, in a painting in the Milani art trade in Solesino near Padua (172 × 123 cm, unpublished), both from the later phase. According to Nicola Spinosa, however, this painting dates from his early phase between 1650 and 1653/1654, when the artist strongly oriented himself to Jusepe de Ribera (1591–1652), while later more Venetian influences dominated. It comes very close to a composition in the National Gallery of Slovenia, Ljubljana (124 × 99 cm, inv.no. NG S 2017). The position of Prometheus is identical except for his left arm but turned more vertically. The left upper arm with the defensively spread hand is turned down and the forearm lies on the thigh. 69,2 × 55,3 cm Oil on canvas Luca Giordano (1634–1705)