1272 - Francesco Solimena (1657 Serino – 1747 Naples) Circle or follower of the late 18th century.

Francesco Solimena (1657 Serino – 1747 Naples) Circle or follower of the late 18th century. Study: Mother with Child In the center is a seated depiction of the Madonna with a suggested figure of the infant Jesus and a heavy, draping robe. The powerful, darkly hatched drapery was highlighted with white chalk to precisely test and refine the three-dimensional effect and the interplay of light and shadow. The upper half of the sheet features two pose studies of the same motif, characterized by skillfully placed guide lines; on the reverse side are two quick figure studies. This sheet is an excellent example of a double-sided study sheet that reflects the creative process behind a fresco or a large-format painting: While the front already features an advanced study of drapery, lighting, and posture, on the reverse the artist records his initial ideas regarding anatomical details and the positions of the accompanying figures. The high-quality and subtle execution of the study points to a Baroque painter from the circle of—or a direct successor to—Francesco Solimena, who, in his paintings and monumental frescoes, created an extraordinary fusion of Baroque dynamism with a strict, geometric composition, characterized by an outstanding, high-contrast interplay of light and color. To achieve such balance, the preparatory process had to be carried out with particular meticulousness, as evidenced by numerous preparatory sketches by Solimena in major collections such as the Musée du Louvre in Paris, the Albertina in Vienna, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Charcoal and white chalk or red chalk (verso)/gray-blue paper. Signed “Solimena” lower right and inscribed in several places. 38.9 cm x 25.8 cm. Framed. Provenance: German private collection, acquired from Bruce Livie, Galerie Arnoldi-Livie, Munich. Circle or successor of Francesco Solimena (1657–1747). Charcoal, whitening, and red chalk on gray-blue paper. Inscribed “Solimena” and with various inscriptions.