Lot 2289 Dα

This painting is a charming and mysterious combination of motifs that allude to the various genres of art. The first thing that catches the eye is a Venetian mask, symbolising the art of acting. Music is symbolised by various pieces of sheet music, poetry by a sonnet by Gio. Battista Marino (1569-1625). Sculpture, in turn, is represented by the signature of Battista Foggini (1642-1725), while ink and red chalk drawings allude to painting. Three playing cards, a small bracket with a mask and a teapot round off this erudite and extremely decoratively arranged repertoire of motifs. The painter himself, however, remains an enigma.