Christ Surrounded By Angels In The Desert, Pietro Da Cortona (cortone 1597 - Rome 1669) Circle

Christ surrounded by angels in the desert
Circle of Pietro da Cortona, born as Pietro Berrettini (Cortona 1597 - Rome 1669)

Oils on canvas (66 x 50 cm. - in frame 80 x 64 cm.)

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The proposed painting, of high quality and artistic level, is a work done towards the end of the seventeenth century by an author from the Roman area. It illustrates the rare evangelical episode of Christ's temptations when, after his baptism, he was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert, remaining tempted by the devil for forty days.

'' Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting for forty days and forty nights, he was hungry ... Then the devil left him and behold, the angels came and served him. '' (Matthew 4: 1-11)

We see, in particular, the epilogue of this episode, where a riot of angels approaches to refresh Christ, victorious but prostrate for having resisted temptation; in the background of the scene there is a rocky wall from which a stream flows, perhaps alluding to the water of the Jordan and therefore to his baptism.

Christ is portrayed kneeling, with his hands placed as a sign of prayer and gratitude, surrounded by four large winged angels, one of whom is serving him food while the others are observing him devoutly; another of them is completely bowed in front of him, as a sign of reference for the will and the strength to have resisted evil. In the upper part, to complete the composition, a group of joyful cherubs in flight are preparing to support a large basket overflowing with fruit.

Now there is no longer any trace of the diabolical figures who tempted him, the environment is celestial and this riot of angels and cherubs, the water that gushes from the rock and the beam of light that breaks the clouds, amplify this sense of spirituality.

The analysis of the stylistic and figurative characters show the belonging to the Roman school of the full seventeenth century, capable of expressing a refined style, and managing to amalgamate the baroque language, by definition sumptuous, with elements of classicist ancestry.

In particular, the work can be traced back to the circle of painters active in the orbit of Pietro Berrettini known as Pietro da Cortona, one of the interpreters of the Baroque school, whose Roman workshop was composed of a thriving group of students, influenced by the master and popularizers of his pictorial verb.

Among these, we can name Guillaume Courtois known as Borgognone (Saint-Hippolite 1628 - Rome 1679), Ciro Ferri (Rome 1633 - 1689) and finally Lazzaro Baldi (Pistoia 1622 - Rome 1703), with whom our canvas shows a strong consonance stylistic.

The canvas is in excellent conservation conditions. Box frame in gilded wood, 19th century


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The work is sold with a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic card.
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It is also possible to see the painting in the Riva del Garda gallery, we will be happy to welcome you to show you our collection of works.

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