32 - 18TH-CENTURY SICILIAN PAINTER

18TH-CENTURY SICILIAN PAINTER (Active in Sicily in the 18th century) Saint Matthew Oil on canvas, 99 x 75 cm Notes: We thank Prof. Stefano Causa for suggesting the attribution to Vito D’Anna. The painting bears a traditional attribution to Francesco Manno (Palermo, 1752 – Rome, 1831), but for stylistic reasons—according to art historian Stefano Causa—it can be attributed to the Palermo-based painter Vito D’Anna (1718–1769). The painter can be considered a refined interpreter of the Palermo Rococo style, but he owes his training to his time in Rome, where he collaborated with Corrado Giaquinto and, in particular, Sebastiano Conca. The work depicts the evangelist Matthew in a moment of inspiration or reading. The saint’s identity is confirmed by the presence of the small angel (or “winged man”), which is his traditional iconographic attribute. Composition: The angel is depicted handing an inkwell to the saint, emphasizing his role as the writer of the Gospel.