Attributed to Bartolomeo Torreggiani, called De Rosa

oil on canvas

Mr. Jack and Mrs. Eileen Feather, California;
Thence by descent to the present owner.

C. Wright, A Catalogue of the 'Old Master Paintings in the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. J.V. Feather at Bridley Manor', Surrey 1974, cat. no. 2.

The canvas is tightly lined and appears pressed as a result. The landscape reads well, especially with the architectural structures that can be admired from building to building. There is some inconsistency to the paint's surface on the mountains at left. There appear to be some thin lines of repairs that are less than three inches long on the right corner. Some retouching on the sky and foreground is visible to the naked eye. Inspection under UV shows some further spots of retouching scattered on the mountains at center, on the ground close to the edge, and on the ocean at center. Further reading is impeded. The canvas is offered on a carved gilded wood frame.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot provided by Sotheby's. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colours and shades which are different to the lot's actual colour and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation because Sotheby's is not a professional conservator or restorer but rather the condition report is a statement of opinion genuinely held by Sotheby's. For that reason, Sotheby's condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot.

Bartolomeo Torreggiani was a sophisticated landscape painter thought to have been born in Naples, but moved to Rome at a very young age. In Rome, Torreggiani became a pupil of Salvator Rosa, from whom he borrowed Rosa's wild portrayal of nature, filled with pathos and lyricism. The affinity in style between the master and the student was such that Bartolomeo earned the nickname "del Rosa".

Another artist that inspired Torreggiani was Claude Lorrain, a French painter who worked in Rome during the 17th century. Lorrain became one of the leading landscapist artists in Italy because of his technique, precision, and mastery of light. In a similar manner to Lorrain, Torreggiani also depicted mesmerizing landscapes through his sensible lighting effects that added a sense of atmosphere to his compositions.

The present painting, though from a different angle, can be compared to Lorrain's 'The Port of Genoa, View from the Sea' in the Musée du Louvre, Paris (inv. no. 4725). Both works show the mountainous landscape at a distance, enhanced by the shadows cast on them through the fog, and highlight the presence of a lighthouse that appears closer to the viewer. Because of the topographical similarities between the two works, it has been suggested that the present landscape also depicts the Port of Genoa.

A note on the provenance:

Jack and Eileen Feather met and fell in love as teenagers in their home town of Omaha, Nebraska. When they married, days after Jack's 19th birthday, Eileen was working as a bank clerk and Jack was pursuing a degree in English on his way to becoming a teacher. Soon after the birth of their first child, Jack and Eileen moved to California so that Jack could continue his education at UC Berkeley. Shortly thereafter Jack was diagnosed with polio, leaving him bedridden for months. Jack’s recovery efforts kindled an interest in physical fitness and led to his innovating new exercises to help regain strength. Eileen began exercising with Jack, acting as his tireless workout partner, motivator, and collaborator; their pioneering exercises helped him make a full recovery and feeling stronger than ever.

In an effort to allow them to share their knowledge and help people, Jack and Eileen decided to start a business together, and the Eileen Feather Figure Salon was created. Soon, through their talent and determination, the salon grew to become an extremely successful franchise and Eileen herself became an icon of health, beauty and self-made success. When it came to Jack and Eileen enjoying the privileges of their success, they always thought of ways to broaden their horizons through art. Together they started a lovely collection of Old Masters full of historical portraits, mythological allegories, religious scenes, and breathtaking landscapes. Besides their remarkable taste in art, the collection reflects and honors their lifelong partnership.