Giovanni Paolo Castelli, called Spadino

"The following condition report has been provided by Henry Gentle, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. The canvas is lined and the paint layer is stable, if a little raised in places, with well preserved impasto. The paint to the lower right hand side has previously been unstable and there has been some minor losses here, restored. There are also some small losses along the bottom edge. There is noticeable fading to the green and brown pigments . The painting is in good condition overall. The removal of the varnish would improve the tonality."
"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."

This resplendent still life, with fruit tumbling out of a large glass bowl onto stony ground, is entirely typical of Spadino's output at the very beginning of the 18th century when his powers were at their apex. The composition is very similar to his still life that sold Stockholm, Bukowski, 29 November 1995, lot 217.¹ Spadino achieves here a dazzling display of light and colours that is quintessentially baroque.

Although Spadino was profoundly influenced by the paintings of Abraham Brueghel, his neighbour in Rome from 1671 to 1674, his painterly style and vibrant colouring are entirely his own. His reputation was such that he was patronised by many Roman aristocrats, including Principe Filippo Corsini and Cardinal Flavio Chigi.

1. see G. & U. Bocchi, Pittori di Natura Morta a Roma, Mantua 2005, p. 603, fig. GPS.12.