Wonderful Italian painting from the 17th century. Oil painting on canvas depicting a famous episode from the Iliad, the dispute between Agamemnon and Achilles over Briseis. During the Trojan War the God Apollo had unleashed a plague among the Achaeans because Agamemnon refused to return Chryseis, the daughter of Chryses, the priest of the temple. To put an end to the plague, the King of Mycenae is forced to return it to the Trojans, but decides to take Briseis, the spoils of war and Achilles' slave, as a consolation prize. The Greek hero now fond of the girl is outraged, withdraws from the fight and will return to the battlefield only after the death of Patroclus. On the left we see Agamemnon with the scepter of command, on the right the beautiful Briseis, while in the center we find the enraged Achilles.
The work, of notable pictorial quality, reveals the distinctive characteristics of Genoese painting and can be attributed to the Baroque painter Valerio Castello (1624-1659). The fast and vibrant hand, the elongated bodies and the warm colours, the bright brushstrokes that light up the drapes. All these elements can be traced back to the master, one of the great innovators of Genoese baroque painting (The painting is not currently accompanied by expertise but it is possible to request it upon payment of the relevant additional costs).
Painting of ideal size, perfect for a prestigious, classic or contemporary environment. A Homeric page translated into painting with a rare intensity, a refined work for a collector of paintings with mythological subjects. 20th century frame in carved and lacquered wood, with various signs of aging. Painting already restored with relining, replacement of the frame and color recovery in small spots. Overall in good state of conservation. Light painting H 89.5 x W 89.5 cm.
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SILVER Seller in Cuneo, Italy
