Jan Frans van Bloemen, called l'Orizzonte

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. These paintings have been recently restored and framed and should be hung as is. Both canvases have been lined and the paint layers have been cleaned. There appear to be no retouches of consequence and these paintings are in exceptionally good condition.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

The Flemish painter and etcher Jan Frans van Bloemen, called Orizzonte was one of the most important exponents of classical landscape in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century. Following in the tradition of Poussin and Claude, he produced idealized Italianate landscapes with graceful figures and noble architecture amid harmonious, luxuriant nature.

Van Bloemen studied in Antwerp with Antoon Goubau, who had spent many years in Italy. His brothers Pieter and Norbertus were also painters. Around 1684 van Bloemen travelled to Lyon and spent four months in Turin before settling in Rome with Pieter. He became a member of the Bentvueghels, the brotherhood for expatriate Dutch and Flemish artists who gave him the nickname Orizzonte. In 1742 he was elected to the Accademia di S. Luca.  His patrons included the Marchese Pallavicini and members of the Doria, Rospigliosi and Corsini families in Rome. His work was also popular with English Grand Tourists.