GIOVANNI BATTISTA NALDINI | MANNA FROM HEAVEN; THE STONING OF ST. STEPHEN

Anonymous sale, London, Bonham's, 30 October 2013, lot 1 (the pair; as Florentine School circa 1580).

"One of the best painters in mid-16^th Century Florence, Giovan Battista Naldini forged a unique artistic style of his own, but one which derived a nervous energy from his master Pontormo. These two panels demonstrate Naldini’s ability to create strong and impressive narrative compositions on a more intimate scale, just as successful as the monumental panels he painted for the altars of some of Florence’s most important churches.  They are beautifully preserved, and fascinating for their subject matter, focusing on episodes from the Old and New Testament which appear to be unrelated." 

Christopher Apostle

Carlo Falciani, to whom we are grateful, has attributed these works to Giovanni Battista Naldini. Naldini first trained with Jacopo Pontormo in Florence, and then worked under Giorgio Vasari on the decoration of Francesco I de’ Medici’s Studiolo in the Palazzo Vecchio, alongside Jacopo Coppi (see lot 128). For the Studiolo, Naldini produced an Allegory of Dreams and the Gathering of Ambergris. After this assignment he earned commissions for altarpieces in Santa Maria Novella, Santa Croce, and San Marco in Florence. In 1580 he painted frescoes in the newly constructed chapel of St. John the Baptist in the church of Trinità dei Monte, Rome. 

These two small horizontal panels likely belonged to a group of such scenes that would have also included a Lamentation sold in Sotheby’s previous Dealer’s Eye sale, 26 January 2006, lot 108. The present pictures have survived in remarkable condition given their age and size. They probably date from the years after the completion of the Studiolo, when Naldini enjoyed Vasari’s support and resulting commissions. Both compositions follow Counter-Reformation guidelines for clarity and emphasis on the religious narrative, but Naldini’s individual Mannerist style is still discernible in his use of bright pastel colors.

All proceeds to be donated to ChefsForAmerica COVID –19 Response, a subsidiary of Chef José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen, a relief effort to feed people who are victims of the financial strains due to the coronavirus. To donate, please go to https://wck.org/