Refined 17th century Flemish painting. Oil on copper work depicting a splendid mythological scene, a wonderful landscape with Venus and a cupid. The young Goddess is sitting at the foot of a tree, weaving and receiving flowers from a smiling putto. The composition is immersed in a wooded landscape that opens onto a horizon full of meticulous naturalistic details. The reference to the taste for Flemish roundness is evident, the rendering of the complexion is soft with pink veils, the modeling is soft and the chiaroscuro is soft.
It features an inscription on the back of the copper and the frame with references to the baroque painter Valerio Castello (1624-1659). Presumably not contemporary, we believe that this is an unfounded attribution, as the painting seems far from the style of the great Genoese artist. More likely, he was a Northern European painter influenced by Italian taste or active in Italy in the first half of the 17th century. Hendrick Van Balen (1575-1632), an excellent painter from Antwerp, went to Rome to study classical art. At least twenty-six highly renowned pupils are attributed to him and the copper in question could belong to his circle.
The work, small in size but of great lyrical intensity, stands out for the grace of the figures and the preciousness of the floral rendering. A fascinating painting, easily placed in any environment, ideal for a collector of Nordic paintings. A small Flemish jewel on a rare and precious support, perfect for enriching a wunderkammer, the so-called chamber of wonders. Non-coeval frame in gilded wood from the 19th century, with some signs of aging. Work with small retouches, overall in excellent state of conservation. Painting light H 16 x W 12 cm
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PLATINUM Seller in Cuneo, Italy
