Leonardo Coccorante

In the posession of the family of the current owner since at least 1950. 

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. This pair of paintings has not been recently attended to. Although the condition of both works is very fresh and un-abraded, the paint layers are both noticeably dirty. There has also been some broad repaint, particularly in the skies, which should be removed and re-examined. Both canvases have old linings. While the surfaces are a little wavy, the linings can probably remain. Given the significant dirt layer, examination under ultraviolet light is not particularly fruitful, but there are some darker marks which probably correspond to restorations. In the composition with the archways on the left side, there is a restoration in the upper right. In the composition with the archways on the right side, there are more recent restorations on the left side, around the large arch on the right side and in the upper right. These restorations are broad and aimless. The actual losses which have given rise to this restoration are probably considerably smaller than one would judge from the amount of retouching. The blue of both skies were broadly repainted at an earlier date, which suggests that some discoloration may have occurred, but again, there is no reason to think that the condition is at fault here. A full cleaning and retouching is recommended, which should reveal impressive conditions in both pictures.
"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."

Leonardo Coccorante was the leading architectural capriccio painter of the Neapolitan tradition, and he is included by Bernardo De Dominici in his Vite de' pittori, scultori ed architetti napoletani (1742-1745).  His landscapes and capriccios, which, like the present pair of large paintings, are at once visionary and dramatic, and often depict classical ruins with large expanses of sea and sky beyond.  

We are grateful to Professor David R. Marshall, who, based on photographs, has confirmed the attribution to Leonardo Coccorante.