Lot 1570 Dα

An elegant damask drape is lifted to reveal a still-life with diverse musical instruments on a ledge: a trumpet, a violin, a guitar, together with books, musical notebooks, fruit and flowers. The displayed objects might well hide symbolic meaning: the silent instruments might allude do the fleeting experiences of senses and the composition might remind o the transience of life.

Most likely first active in Evaristo Baschenis workshop, Bartolomeo Bettera became later independent and, after Bashenis death, replaced him as the leading painter of musical still lifes, developing an own personal style and leaning to a theatrical direction, in contrast to the more meditative forerunner.

The present work presents many of the elements particular to Bettera´s work: the dramatically lit and broad composition is counterpointed and framed by architectonical details and perspectival elements, with the instruments sliding to the background. Typically for the works from the 1690s, the atmosphere appears less severe, more decorative, anticipating the 18th century taste.

An interesting element for dating of the work is the inclusion of the flower still life by a different hand: fruits and flower are by Francesca Vincentina (1657-1700), active in Milan within the Volò workshop. The painting must therefore have been produced whilst Bettera was active in Milan, after 1688.