Night naval battle, Ilario Mercanti «lo Spolverini» (Parma, 1657 – 1734)

Ilario Mercanti known as «lo Spolverini» (Parma, 1657 – 1734)

Night naval battle scene

oil on copper (oval)

cm. 59 x 74 – with frame cm. 83 x 98

NB: we would like to point out that the painting depicts a nocturnal battle, which by its nature is dark, and which, to be fully appreciated, requires adequate lighting as in the photos published here.

Full details (click HERE)

The proposed painting depicts a detailed naval battle at night and is a work attributable to the Italian Ilario Mercanti (Parma 1657 – 1734), better known by the name of Spolverini. It is a painting executed on copper, a support that allows one to fully enjoy the palette in its chromatic values, here characterized by great intensity.

The scene depicts a chaotic clash between the vessels of two European armies, presumably between the English and French fleets: the foreground is dominated by a close-quarters clash between two groups of men in small boats, probably during the boarding of a ship.

The overall impression is one of intense violence and desperate struggle, accentuated by the dramatic night-time setting, with the water filled with struggling figures, while in the background, imposing warships exchange cannon fire under a leaden, smoke-filled sky.

There are numerous examples relating to this part of Spolverini's activity, always supported by the characteristic ability to animate very intricate groups of figures and by a great inventive capacity, with such inventive ease that he was not forced to resort to repetition or self-copying.

The scene proposed is intensely dramatic and vivid, with a cold, lunar light filtering through the dark clouds and smoke from a burning ship, which accentuate and contribute to the general sense of competitive vigor in the painting. The background tones of the entire composition, dark but at the same time intense and brilliant, accentuated by the spots of intense red color that characterize the application, increase the violence of this nocturnal clash.

For comparison, we can recall the pair of “Battles of Fornovo” (Pinacoteca di Parma), one by day and the other by night, in which he gives a first taste of his luministic peculiarities through the artificial light of the background explosion, and also the two ovals “Explosion of the powder magazine” and “Siege of a castle” (Millon Paris 27.9.23 [1], see photo in details) already exhibited at the Circolo della Stampa in Milan. Finally, there are the two paintings with naval battles of the Cariparma Foundation (https://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/scheda/opera/85958/).

The work is presented in an excellent state of conservation, aided by the copper support, completed by a valuable custom-made gilded frame, not contemporary with the painting.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The painting is sold accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and descriptive iconographic card.

We take care of and organize the transport of the purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers.

In case of purchase of the work by non-Italian customers it will be necessary to obtain an export permit which requires approximately 10/20 days, our gallery will take care of the entire phase until obtaining it. All costs of this procedure are included.

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