Agostino MASUCCI (Rome 1691-1758) Portrait of... Lot 44

Agostino MASUCCI (Rome 1691-1758) Portrait of Francisco Pescatori Baroni Mastigoli y Pascual (1721-1791), Third Marquis of San Andres de Parma Canvas Inscription on the letter on the table: Al S. D. Francisco/Marques de S. Andres/Al... de las R.G. Españoles/de M.C.D M a/ en el Coll Clementina Roma Portrait of Francisco Pescatori Baroni Mastigoli y Pascual (1721-1791), Third Marquis of San Andrés de Parma, canvas Inscription on the letter laid on the table: Al S. D. Francisco/Marques de S. Andres/Al... de las R.G. Españoles/de M.C.D M a/ en el Coll Clementina Roma 217,5 x 144 cm - 855/8 x 563/4 in. PROVENANCE Anonymous sale, London, Sotheby's, 7 July 2011, no. 302. Inscribed on the letter on the table at right: Al S. D. Francisco/Marques de S. Andres/Al de las R.G. Españoles/de M.C.D M a/ en el Coll Clementina Roma Agostino Masucci was a repository of the great classical tradition of his master Carlo Maratta in Rome. A prizewinner at the Accademia di San Luca in Rome from 1706 to 1708, he became an academician there in 1724 and was soon commissioned to paint several important altarpieces. He established himself as the best portraitist during the second quarter of the century, obtaining commissions from the Rospigliosi. He was also much admired in Spain and Portugal where he won important commissions, including a Holy Family for the Basilica of Mafra. He trained some of the most talented painters of the next generation, including Pompeo Batoni, Gavin Hamilton, Stefano Pozzi and Giuseppe Bottani. Our portrait foreshadows the layout that Pompeo Batoni would adopt. Here, the model is wearing the collar of the Order of Santiago (St. James of the Sword). In the background, we see the Castel Sant'Angelo and St. Peter's Basilica. The attribution to Masucci has been confirmed by Professor Francesco Petrucci.