Salvator Rosa

Possibly Jaques Courtois, il Borgognone (1621-1675);
Thereafter recorded in the collection of Conte Franceso Maria Carpegna (1661-1749), Rome;
John Spencer (1734-1783), 1^st Earl Spencer, Althorp, Northamptonshire, by 1750;
By descent, until 1979, when acquired.

Northampton, Northants., Museum and Art Gallery, Italy and the Grand Tour in the XVII and XVIII Centuries, 14 March - 11 April 1959, no. 49; also cited in non-paginated introd. by G. Isham;
London, Royal Academy of Arts, Italian Art and Britain, 2 January - 6 March 1990, no. 44;
London, Hayward Gallery, Salvator Rosa, 17 October- 23 December 1973, no. 8;
Naples, Museo di Capodimonte, Salvator Rosa: tra mito e magia, 18 April - 29 June 2008, no. 57.

A catalogue of the Pictures of Althrop [sic] taken in the year 1750, (Hertfordshire Record Office, County Hall, Hertford, no. SG13 8DE; published in K.J. Garlick, 1974-1976 [cited below], p. 108 (as Jaques Courtois, called Il Borgognone));
Horace Walpole, 'Journals of Visits to Country Seats &c.', ed. by P. Toynbee [records author’s visit to Althorp, August 1760], in The Walpole Society, XVI, 1927-1928, p. 31 (as Courtois);
“Catalogue of the Pictures at Althorp made in November 1802” (published in K.J. Garlick, 1974-1976 [cited below], p. 117; as Courtois):
T.F. Dibdin, “Aedes Althorpianae” London 1822, p. 11 (as Courtois);
“Jones’ Views of the Seats, Mansions, Castles &c., of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland…” London 1829, n.p. (as Courtois);
G.F. Waagen, Kunstwerke und Künstler in England und Paris, vol. II, Berlin 1838, p. 544 (as Courtois);
Catalogue of the Pictures of Althorpe House, privately printed, London 1851, cat. no. 121 (as Courtois);
L. Dussieux, Les Artisites Français à l’étranger, Paris 1876, p. 321 (as Courtois);
A. Graves, Summary of and Index to Waagen, London 1912, p. 21 (as Courtois);
G. Blondeau, 'L’Oeuvre de Jaques Courtois, dit le Bourguignon des Batailles' in Réunion des Sociétés des Beaux-Arts des Départements, 1914, p. 142 (as Courtois);
H. Voss, Malerei des Barock in Rom, Berlin 1924, p. 570 (here and henceforth as Rosa);
L. Salerno, Salvator Rosa, Florence 1963, pp. 119, cat. no. 24a and p. 147 reproduced fig. 24a;
K.J. Garlick, 'A Catalogue of Pictures at Althorp', in The Walpole Society, XLV, 1974-1976, p. 73, cat. no. 563;
L. Salerno, L’Opera completa di Salvator Rosa, Milan 1975, p. 91, cat. no. 90, reproduced;
M. Mahoney, The Drawings of Salvator Rosa, New York 1977, vol. I, pp. 87-88 and note 2, reproduced vol. II, plate 26;
C.M. Kauffmann, Catalogue of Paintings in the Wellington Museum, London 1982, p. 123, cited under cat. no. 153;
S. Alloisi in Rome, Quadri senza casa: dai depositi della Galleria Corsini, exhibition catalogue, Rome 1993-1994, p. 33, cited under cat. no. 19;
P. Consigli, La Battaglia nella pittura del XVII e XVIII secolo, Parma 1994, p. 413;
J. Scott, Salvator Rosa: His Life and Times, New Haven and London 1995, p. 223, reproduced p. 224, plate 234;
H. Voss, Baroque Painting in Rome, vol. II, The High and Late Baroque, Rococo and Early Neoclassicism, 1620-1790 (trans. and ed. by T. Pelzel), San Francisco 1997, p. 71;
G. Sestieri, I pittori di battaglie: maestri italiani e stranieri del XVII e XVIII secolo, Rome 1999, pp. 156, 443, 446; 648, 668, reproduced p. 447, fig. 7;
S. Loire, Peintures italiennes du XVIIe siècle du musée du Louvre: Florence, Gênes, Lombardie, Naples, Rome et Venise, Paris 2006, p. 322;
V. Pacelli and G. Forgione, 'Un Furio Camillo contro Brenno e alcune note su Salvator Rosa e il genere della ‘'Battaglia''', in Studi di storia dell’arte, vol. XXI, 2010, reproduced in colour p. 181, fig. 9 (the painting erroneously illustrated in a discussion of a Battle Scene attributed to Rosa and exhibited at the Walpole Gallery, London, in 1989);
W. Romano in Salvator Rosa: tra mito e magia, exhibition catalogue, Naples 2008, cat. no. 57, reproduced in colour;
N. Lallemand-Buyssens in S. Ebert-Schifferer et al., 'Jacques Courtois et Salvator Rosa', in Salvatore Rosa e il suo tempo, 1615-1673, Rome 2010, pp. 362/364; and 370, notes 30-34;
O. Tostmann in S. Ebert-Schifferer et al., 'Cold Anger: Salvator Rosa as a Painter of Battle Pieces,” in Salvator Rosa e il suo tempo, 1615-1673, Rome, 2010, p. 215, note 7.

The picture is lighter in tone and fresher in colour than the catalogue illusration would suggest. The canvas has been lined and the paint surface appears to be in very good condition if a little thin in the darker more fugitive pigments. There is no damage or loss of paint visible to the naked eye however there is localised surface dirt and a slightly motled varnish overall. Examination under ultraviolet reveals some minor scattered retouching throughout the sky which includes retouching to an old vertical surface scratch measuring approx. 1 in. in the centre left and some retouching to two vertical lines running down the canvas weave centre right, through the two figures to the right of the sword wielding horseman. Otherwise the picture seems to be in good overall condition. Offered in a smart gilt wood and plaster frame in good overall condition. .
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The painting is datable to Rosa's Tuscan years. A smaller version is in the Galleria Naionale d'Arte Antica, Rome and is signed in monogram.¹

1. See Salerno 1975, under Literature, p. 91, cat. 91.