Gaspare Diziani Belluno 1689 - 1767 Venice

Throughout his long and prolific career, Gaspare Diziani painted almost exclusively biblical or mythological subjects.  In these two pictures, Diziani treated themes relating to the loves of the gods.  The first composition depicts Hercules aiming his arrow at the centaur Nessus as the latter attempts to abduct his wife Deianiera.  This theme is not the most common among the tales of Hercules' deeds and adventures, yet Diziani painted scenes from this tale on at least two other occasions.  One of these pictures, which is closely related to the present lot, is currently on view at the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, Geneva. 

The second painting represents the Roman deities Vulcan and Venus with Cupid accompanying his mother as she descends towards Vulcan's forge.  The artist's familiarity with working on a large scale is reflected in the grandeur of the present compositions.  Indeed, Diziani regularly worked on building decoration, sometimes with the help of assistants.  For example in 1746-47 he painted a cycle of mythological and allegorical frescoes at the Palazzo Riccati, Castelfranco Veneto, which can still be seen in situ.