Important Florentine painting from the mid-17th century. Oil on canvas work attributed to the great Italian painter Vincenzo Dandini (1609-1675), depicting a refined allegorical figure, probably identifiable as an Allegory of Magnificence or Liberality.
The young woman is represented sitting, sumptuously dressed and facing directly towards the observer. In his raised hand he holds a small compass, a symbol of measurement, proportion and discernment, while on his lap appears a cornucopia, a symbol of abundance, full of coins, pearls, corals and precious jewels. The association of the two attributes seems to allude to a wealth regulated by reason and administered with balance, according to a complex symbolism typical of the allegorical culture of the seventeenth century.
The figure emerges very effectively from the dark background, hit by a soft light that shapes the face and hands. The pale complexion, enlivened by the rosy tones of the cheeks, is constructed through delicate chiaroscuro passages, while the intense gaze gives the woman a surprising psychological presence.
The performance of the clothing is of extraordinary quality. The red dress, animated by large folds and embellished with minute golden motifs, is accompanied by a blue-green sleeve and overlapping grey, green and brown drapes. The painter describes with particular sensitivity the different textures of silks, velvets, embroideries and metallic ornaments, achieving effects of great material richness. The gold embroidered border that runs across the lower part of the composition is splendid, conceived as a refined ornamental element.
Vincenzo Dandini was one of the most important protagonists of seventeenth-century Florentine painting. Trained by his brother Cesare, he completed his education in Rome in the workshop of Pietro da Cortona. Returning to Florence, he worked for the Medici court, fusing Roman baroque monumentality and Tuscan naturalistic sensitivity in his own language. His drawings and works are preserved, among other institutions, in the Uffizi Galleries, the Art Institute of Chicago and the British Museum in London (the painting is not currently accompanied by expertise, but it is possible to request one upon payment of the relevant additional costs).
A work of considerable charm and great decorative strength, ideal for a reception room or an important professional studio. The quality of the flesh tones, the refinement of the fabrics and the unusual iconography make it a work of particular collector's interest.
The painting, originally conceived in an octagonal shape, was subsequently enlarged at the four corners to obtain the current rectangular format. The work has already been restored with relining, replacement of the frame and color additions in some places. Overall in good state of conservation.
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SILVER Seller in Cuneo, Italy
