ATTRIBUÉ À GIOVANI GHISOLFI (Milan, 1623 - Milan... Lot n° 14

ARCHITECTURAL CAPRICE Painting on canvas H. 73.5 cm, L. 97 cm Taking place in an architectural setting in ruins, this landscape by the Lombard painter Giovanni Ghisolfi is part of the tradition of caprices or capricci. Contrary to the veduta, which is concerned with topographical accuracy, the capriccio skillfully mixes the true and the false. The fruit of the artist's imagination, it was intended for lovers of antiques and for some it was reminiscent of the Grand Tour they had just completed. A pupil in Rome of Salvator Rossa (1615-1673), Giovanni Ghisolfi announced the painters of 18th century ruins such as Giovanni Paolo Panini (1695- 1765) and Hubert Robert (1733-1808). Some of his paintings are today visible in French public collections (Mulhouse, Narbonne, Ajaccio...).