11 - Andrea CASALI (Civitavecchia, 1705 – Rome, 1784)

Andrea CASALI (Civitavecchia, 1705 – Rome, 1784) Celia Before Porsenna Circa 1737 Oil on canvas Traces of a signature and date in the lower right corner 208 x 294 cm The subject is taken from Livy (History of Rome, II, 13). At the time when the Etruscan king Porsenna was besieging Rome, the young Clelia was among the hostages handed over to the enemy to guarantee peace. Refusing to submit to captivity, she leads her companions out of the camp by outwitting the guards and swims across the Tiber to return to her hometown, disguised as an enemy. True to their word, however, the Romans sent her back to Porsenna. The king chose to honor her courage, set her free, and offered her the choice of some of the hostages. Clelia then rescued the youngest boys from the enemy. Casali captured the moment of the meeting. On the left, Clelia stands confidently before the king, surrounded by her companions and the children she points out. On the right, Porsenna sits in his tent, crowned and clad in armor amid his soldiers, and responds to her with a benevolent gesture. In the background, the river serves as a reminder of the heroine’s feat. The composition accentuates both feminine honor and royal magnanimity. These exempla virtutis—which the educated viewer recognizes and contemplates—were highly prized by art lovers of the 18th century. A student of Francesco Trevisani and Sebastiano Conca, Casali inherited the classical Roman tradition stemming from Maratta. He brightened it with a light, vibrant palette: blues, pinks, and vivid reds. His figures are elegant, with oval faces and pearly complexions, and his drapery is ample and luminous.