Giuseppe Nogari

Anonymous sale, New York, Sotheby's, 28 January 1999, lot 480 (as Attributed to Lorenzo Tiepolo), for $27,000.

The catalogue illustration is representative though the painting is slightly sharper and more contrasted in tone than it appears in reproduction. The canvas has a recent relining which still holds well. The painting has been recently cleaned, restored and revarnished, and needs no further work or restoration. The relining has flattened the more thinly-painted areas somewhat (e.g. the background and the man's beard) but the face shows no signs of wear and the brushwork remains vibrant and fresh in these areas (e.g. the man's eyebrows, eyes and nose) as well as in his costume. Inspection under ultra-violet light reveals careful localised retouchings, principally in the background and in areas lower centre and lower right, but these have been sensitively carried out and are invisible to the naked eye. This lot is offered in a reproduction gilt wood frame, in good condition, and can be hung as is.
"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 fashion for oriental portraits or 'teste d'invenzione' was propagated by the Tiepolo family of painters, both through painted and engraved form (the latter being the source for many Venetian painters of the 18th century). The lively brushwork and colourful palette are typical of Venetian painting at this time and are particularly characteristic of Giuseppe Nogari, whose portraits were greatly sought after in his own day. The painting's execution may be compared in particular with his Portrait of a bearded old man, signed on the reverse of the original canvas, from the Visconti di Modrone cycle of heads (for which see R. Mangili, in Teste di fantasia del Settecento veneziano, exhibition catalogue, Venice, Galleria di Palazzo Cini a San Vio, 9 September - 22 October 2006, pp. 118-9, cat. no. 28, reproduced in colour).