Concert with two musicians, Bernardo Strozzi, known as the Genoese Priest (Genoa 1581 – Venice 1644)

Bernardo Strozzi, known as the Genoese Priest (Genoa 1581 – Venice 1644), concert workshop with two musicians oil on canvas (cm): 98 x 135, with frame 1118 x 154 Complete details of the work proposed directly at the following – link – We propose a painting of great importance, quintessence of Genoese baroque painting of the seventeenth century, which re-proposes the famous work 'the Concert' created by Bernardo Strozzi around 1635, a favorite subject of the artist and replicated in various versions, the most famous of which is preserved today in the British royal collection (The Royal Collection at Hampton Court Palace: https://www.rct.uk/collection/404978/the-concert), purchased in 1762 by George III from Joseph Smith, British consul in Venice. Counted among the major protagonists of the lively season of Genoese Baroque, among his characteristics we must certainly include his attention to Caravaggio's themes of Nordic origin and especially to those dedicated to the universe of music: in fact he painted numerous works depicting musicians, both soloists in various versions of the 'Pifferai', both in groups as in the work in question. The theme of the Concerto dates back to the final period of his life in Genoa and the beginning of his move to Venice, during which his works were characterized by a predilection for more profane and allegorical themes and accentuated his characteristic bold use of color and Dense mixture, applied in a safe and articulated way. This work represents two musicians intent on tuning their instruments, as they prepare to start playing together: a young violinist, dressed in a simple costume, is accompanied by an older lute player, presumably his teacher, in more elegant clothes. important and with a large plumed hat. An instrument placed in the foreground on the left suggests that they are waiting for a third musician. Both figures intensely direct their gazes towards the observer, as if concentrating their attention on someone outside the image plane; eye contact and lively expressions establish a psychological relationship of strong involvement with their audience. In addition to the rendering of the faces, the somatic features and the magnetism that the painter was able to give to the expressions, the accuracy with which the musical instruments were depicted and their precise positioning in the hands of the musicians deserves mention, demonstrating the attentiveness and scrupulous preparatory study by the painter. By studying the work further we see how it could be two portraits created by the master on commission, but the allegorical meaning that this composition could possess cannot be excluded, leaving more interpretative possibilities open. The first hypothesis concerns the age of the figures, whose antithesis could be reflected in the contrast between naive youth and lived age; however, we know that the violin and the lute both refer to ideas of balance and harmony, and therefore the concert scenes could be aimed at symbolizing, in addition to the sense of hearing, an idea of ​​harmony and love. Whatever the interpretation, these concert paintings were, like the music they depicted, extremely appreciated by the cultured patrons of the time, Genoese and Venetian, during the Baroque period. Our subject in particular was among the dearest to Bernardo Strozzi, who produced a large number of replicas of the work, both autograph and workshop. Some examples are: – Private collection Venice, http://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/scheda/opera/63019/Strozzi%20Bernardo%2C%20Concerto – SS collection Wulc, Rydal (United States), http://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/scheda/opera/63015/Strozzi%20Bernardo%2C%20Concerto – Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow https://pushkinmuseum.art/ data/fonds/europe_and_america/j/1001_2000/zh_169/index.php?lang=it – Christie's, Rome, Ancient Paintings, 4 December 2000 https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1948334 – National Trust , Tatton Park, Knutsford (England) https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/two-musicians-131396 The conservation conditions of the work are excellent, the pictorial layer does not present any type of problem, despite the size of the canvas . The painting comes complete with an antique gilded wooden frame. The work, like all our objects, is sold accompanied by a certificate of photographic expertise. We personally take care of and organize the packaging and shipping of works of art, in Italy and all over the world.