Alexander The Great Grants Clemency To The Persians, Francesco Fontebasso (venice 1709 -1769)

Francesco Fontebasso
(Venice 1709 - Venice 1769)
Alexander the Great grants clemency to the Persians

Oil on canvas
108 x 153 cm.
In frame 120 x 164 cm.

Fascinating for its interesting subject matter, the beautiful painting draws its inspiration from the conquest stories of the great Alexander the Great, portrayed giving clemency to a general of the defeated Persian army.

Entering into the details of the refined composition, Alexander is portrayed standing with a triumphant air and aware of his own glory, while granting clemency to the people of Persia, here symbolically depicted by two opposing militiamen, one kneeling in submission and a second standing held captive. The details of their armour are interesting, where lion heads, a Persian symbol since time immemorial, stand out, as well as the typical long sabres.

Historically, we know that the Battle of Issus (333 BC) definitively gave Alexander dominance of the greatest empire ever created, forcing Darius III to flee and causing panic among the Persian troops, who decided to take Alexander's side, demanding clemency.

Alexander treated them with respect and, after swearing allegiance to them, incorporated them into his army, but always imposing his own dominance: our author has immortalised this moment.

This is a valuable work, executed by an 18th century Venetian painter and attributable precisely to Francesco Fontebasso (Venice, 1709 - 1769), a painter who tackled this theme on several occasions, a leading protagonist of the extraordinary painting season of 18th century Venice.

His training took place in Sebastiano Ricci's workshop, followed by stays in Bologna and Rome. Upon his return to Venice, he allowed himself to be won over by the impetuous chiaroscuro effects of the young Giambattista Tiepolo, whose influence would be evident in all of his work.

In its realisation, Fontebasso gives us a work that is strongly emotionally engaging, both for the magnificence of the painting and the theme proposed. In fact, the subject reveals the magnanimity and clemency of the sovereign who often welcomed his conquered enemies with extreme consideration.

The true poetry of the painting is the painter's mastery of descriptive detail, so much so as to arouse in the spectator a sense of profound admiration, enraptured by the virtuosity of the technique, the profusion of detail, with the exceptional richness of the details of the uniforms rendered with great skill.

Good state of preservation. Rintelato. Pictorial matter in very good condition, with some old restorations scattered over the surface.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The painting is sold complete with an attractive gilded frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and descriptive iconographic card.

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Ref: 39P5496G72