Lot 2102 Dα

The name Octavianus Montfort was for a long time only associated with a small group of signed miniatures. However, following the discovery of his death certificate and a document recording a yearly payment from Christina of France, Duchess of Savoy (1606–1663), from the year 1646 (“vassallo Ottaviano Monforte fatto studio della miniatura e fatto profitto non mediocre in quella, riceverà per tale motivo una pensione annuale di 1200 lire d'argento”), Dr. Cifani was able in 1990 to prove his long-term employment as an artist at the court of Turin.
Monfort was active in Turin for around five decades and painted many flower and fruit still lifes, all of which demonstrate his unmistakeable style. The fine quality of the painting, balanced composition, and pale colour palette are all characteristic of this artist, who rendered the soft contours of the fruit and flowers in a unique and playful manner.
Dr. Cifani describes this work on parchment as a fine example of Montfort's works and compares its composition and choice of motifs with other works in gouache by the artist, such as a parchment in a private collection in Rome or the still life housed in the Castello di Settime. This work's obvious links to Giovanna Garzoni lead Dr. Cifani to date the piece between 1660 and 1670.