Urania, Muse Of Astronomy - 18th century italian school, attributed to Francesco Trevisani (1656 - 1746)

Oil on canvas
(cm): 100 x 74
with frame 118 x 92

attributed to Francesco Trevisani (1656 - 1746)
Private collection, Rome

The magnificent portrait is Urania, one of the nine Muses, figures of Greek mythology, daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, who in the Greek religion represented the supreme ideal of art and symbols of the highest forms of human thought.

Represented wearing a blue dress and wearing a winged headdress, the muse of astronomy is supported by a globe, coupled with other mathematical tools. The painting, dating from the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century, comes from the furniture of an important Roman house;

Regarding stylistic features, it seems to be the work of an Italian master scholar, who shows a drawing with Roman culture and also influences of Tuscany, with echoes of Venetian coloring.

On the basis of these considerations, combined with the precision design, the extraordinary writing surface, almost glossy, and the strong definition of color, we are inclined to attribute our work to Francesco Trevisani (1656 - 1746).

The chromatic sequences studied, combined to obtain very precise chiaroscurale, inherited from his artistic training in Venice, and an exceptional softness of the drawing, the flourishing complexion, and finally, the choice of the gestures and the faces, are elements which give a certainty to our attribution.

Confirming simply comparing our canvas with other Trevisani that, well known for many religious representations, fail to paint profane, allegorical and mythological subjects. In particular, by comparing the features of the face, profile portrait down, with 'Madonna del cucito' (Florence, Uffizi), and again with the angels of 'San Carlo Borromeo in the adoration of the Child '(Rome, Church S. Anastasia).

Both in composition and stylistic choices, I can not fail to mention the series of allegories present at the National Gallery of Ancient Art at Palazzo Barberini in Rome. The conditions of the painting are excellent: the work has been cleaned and repainted, and it is in all its splendor without significant restorations.