Giovanni Francesco Romanelli, called il Viterbese

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com , an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. Despite the fact that this picture at present looks quite unkempt, it is actually in remarkable condition. The canvas does not appear to have ever been lined or removed from its original stretcher. The paint layer has most likely never been cleaned, varnished or restored in any way. There are three breaks to the canvas which are unrestored and clearly visible. There is one located in the upper center, another in the center right and the third in the center left. On the reverse there are some very perfunctory linen patches which have been applied to these tears however, essentially this picture requires structural work at this time. If the paint layer were to be cleaned, it would be revealed to be very healthy with no abrasion and hardly any discoloration or weakening. Due to the visible breaks to the canvas this painting is not in perfect condition, yet it is as close as one can get and we are very happy with the condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Giovanni Franceco Romanelli was born in Viterbo and moved early to Rome where he was part of the circle of artists and intellectuals protected by Pope Urban VIII and Cardinal Francesco Barberini. He was first recorded as a pupil of Domenichino and, in 1631, as the assistant to Pietro da Cortona on the decoration of the Palazzo Barberini. He enjoyed good reputation and was called for important commissions including a cycle of frescoes for the Vatican. Simultaneously, he worked under Bernini and decorated several Roman churches and palaces.

In 1644, the death of Urbino VIII led to the fall and exile of the Barberini family. From 1646 to 1647, with the help of the cardinal, Romanelli travelled to Paris where he was asked to decorate the gallery of Mazarin House (today known as the National Library) illustrating the history of Rome. He was again called to Paris from 1654 to 1657 to paint the ceilings of the apartments of the Queen Regent, Anne of Austria, in the Louvre.

We are grateful to Dr. Ursula Fischer Pace for endorsing the attribution to Giovanni Francesco Romanelli on the basis of photographs and for proposing a date of execution circa 1654-1657. In her opinion, the colours are very delicate and typical of the artist during his second stay in France.