{"product_id":"capricho-arquitectonico-italiano-oleo-antiguo-mancin","title":"The Portico towards the Sea — Architectural Capriccio of Italian tradition, oil on canvas, late 18th – early 19th century","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBehind the monumental colonnade of an imaginary palace, the landscape opens toward a horizon bathed in light. Two small figures dressed in red walk along a stone terrace while, beyond the balustrade, the vegetation and a stretch of water fade into the distance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis oil painting on canvas is an evocative example of an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003earchitectural caprice (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecapriccio\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e) in the Italian tradition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a genre that reached notable development during the 18th century and extended its influence into the first decades of the 19th.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArchitecture is the true protagonist of the composition. A set of marble-like columns, volute capitals, monumental arches, and ornamental panels configures a space of extraordinary theatricality. The staircases and the pavement, constructed using oblique vanishing lines, lead the eye from the shadows of the foreground to the luminosity of the horizon.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe delicate vases of flowers adorning the gallery and the small figures in Orientalist-inspired attire introduce a narrative dimension. As was the case in the great caprices of Italian painting, the characters do not occupy the center of the story; they are the fleeting inhabitants of architecture that seems to exist outside of time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe treatment of light is particularly interesting. The greenish and brownish tones of the columns contrast with the golden reflections of the architectural elements and the grayish-blue sky in the background. The transition between the shadowy areas of the portico and the clarity of the landscape provides depth to the scene.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFar from necessarily representing an actual building, the painting corresponds to the concept of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eveduta ideata\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: architecture conceived through the imagination, where perspective, ornamentation, and landscape combine to construct a distinct pictorial reality.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChronology and attribution\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe work is provisionally placed between the late 18th and early 19th centuries\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, in accordance with its architectural language, figurative treatment, and the general characteristics of the pictorial ensemble.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis chronology is based on a historical-stylistic assessment. No technical-scientific study of the pigments, preparation, or support has been performed that would allow for a conclusive date to be established, so the dating remains open to future specialized verification.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe frame retains a small metal plaque with the inscription \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"MANCIN\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a testament to a previous attribution. Thus far, it has not been possible to document the identity of the artist to whom it refers or to confirm their relationship to the execution of the work. The inscription is maintained as part of its material history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrame and conservation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe painting is presented in an imposing gilded wooden frame, with ornamental moldings and a rich succession of relief vegetable motifs, which considerably enhances its decorative presence.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pictorial surface exhibits widespread craquelure, especially perceptible in certain areas of the sky and the architecture, as well as signs of aging. The reverse retains a darkened textile support and a traditionally constructed wooden structure. There is no conservation study available to determine with certainty the extent of possible ancient interventions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTechnical specifications\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDescriptive title:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Portico Toward the Sea\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthorship:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Unidentified author. Attribution plaque \"MANCIN\".\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSchool or tradition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Architectural painting of the Italian tradition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProposed chronology:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Late 18th – early 19th century.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDating:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Historical-stylistic, pending technical confirmation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTechnique:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Oil on canvas.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions of the painting:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 79 × 63 cm.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions with frame:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 98 × 85 cm.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrame:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Gilded wood with relief ornamental decoration.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGenre:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Architectural caprice (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecapriccio\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e), landscape of imaginary architecture.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Craquelure and signs of aging; technical conservation study pending.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWorkshop Note\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eColumns and arches fill the foreground and frame the opening towards the sea. The lines of the paving and the sequence of architectural elements lead the eye towards the illuminated distance. Small figures, with reddish accents in their clothing, establish the scale of the architecture and contrast with the green columns, ochre walls and blue-toned sky.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"El taller del coleccionista","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55106283307341,"sku":null,"price":1950.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0904\/1841\/3901\/files\/DSC_0005_251f1c83-3deb-40cb-a6b1-7657bcf74a52.jpg?v=1793804039","url":"https:\/\/eltallerdelcoleccionista.com\/en\/products\/capricho-arquitectonico-italiano-oleo-antiguo-mancin","provider":"El taller del coleccionista","version":"1.0","type":"link"}