Scuola veneta (XVIII) - Trionfo della Virtù

Venetian School, 18th century
Bacchanal or Triumph of Virtue
Oil on copper, 22 x 17 cm
With frame, 31.5 x 27 cm

The refined painting on copper under consideration constitutes a typical example of the decorative grace of the Venetian school of the 18th century, a work that breathes the luminous and theatrical atmosphere of the full Rococo. Although at first glance the presence of a satyr might lead one to think of a bacchanal, the composition actually suggests a more structured moral or mythological allegory, such as the triumph of virtue or a nymph punishing wild desire. The style immediately recalls the models of Jacopo Amigoni or related artists such as Antonio Balestra, where the features of the female figures are sweet, almost diaphanous, and the movements possess a choreographic elegance underscored by the draperies that seem blown by the wind. The use of copper as support accentuates the brilliance of the pigments typical of the Venetian palette, with that cerasus pink and that intense blue standing out in the chromatic contrast between the pale skin of the naiads and the dark, earthy flesh of the satyr felled in the foreground. Every element, from the gesture of the central figure brandishing a twig as a sign of dominance to the overturned amphora beside the mythological creature, contributes to narrating the control of reason over primal instincts, all enclosed in a pictorial dimension of extraordinary softness and luminosity that transforms a moment of clash into a scene of exquisite aesthetic harmony. The extraordinary success of the Venetian mythological and allegorical strand in the 18th century is due to the ability of the great Venetian masters to transform painting into a cosmopolitan and seductive language capable of captivating courts across Europe, from London to Madrid to Saint Petersburg. This production did not aim at a dramatic or realistic representation of the myth, but sought a dimension of pure aesthetic escape where the gods and legendary figures became pretexts to stage a choreography of graceful bodies and luminous colors.

The frame is supplied as a courtesy gift; consequently, it cannot be a reason for return or complaint.

For paintings purchased abroad: after payment, the procedure to obtain the export license (ALC) will be started. All antique pieces sent abroad from Italy require this document, issued by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage. The procedure could take from 3 to 5 weeks from the request, so as soon as we have the document the painting will be shipped."