Pier Francesco Cittadini

Private collection, Germany;
Acquired from the above the grandfather of the present owner, circa 1900;
Thence by descent.

The canvas has been relined. The lining is sound but there are signs of lifting upper right and along the lower left and upper left margins where some flaking has occurred. The paint surface is generally in very good condition and under a dirty discoloured varnish. There are numerous scattered old discoloured retouchings. INspection under UV light reveals a 5 cm vertical repaired damage in the sky, but otherwise restoration is confined to minor local retouchings in the flaking areas, the lion's mane, parts of the sky, and the rocks on the right hand side. Offered in a Bolognese carved and gilt wood frame in good condition.
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This is an exciting new addition to the oeuvre of Pier Francesco Cittadini, an artist born in Milan and originally trained by Daniele Crespi in that city.  Cittadini moved to Bologna at the age of seventeen to join the workshop of Guido Reni, whose influence is palpable in the present work. This painting may be best compared with the artist's Allegory of Spring in the Galleria Estense, Modena, and his Martyrdom of Saint Stephen in Bologna, church of S. Stefano.¹

We are grateful to Prof. Daniele Benati, Dott. Emilio Negro, and Dottssa. Nicosetta Roio for independently proposing the attribution to Cittadini.

 

1. For which see E. Negro, La Scuola di Guido Reni, Modena 1992, p. 190-1, figs. 169-170, and p. 186, fig. 164.