Giovanni Maria Viani

Probably Silvestro Bonfiglioli, Bologna, 1696;
Probably Cardinal Silvio Valenti Gonzaga, Villa Paolina, Rome, before 1763;
With Leegenhoek, Paris, 1992.

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This painting is in beautiful condition. The copper panel on which it is painted is well preserved. The painting is probably slightly dirty. There are hardly any retouches apart from a loss or two in the upper left and along the bottom edge, and in the red fabric draped over the chair. The work is in extremely good condition.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

We are grateful to Prof. Daniele Benati for identifying this work to be by Giovanni Maria Viani, based on photographs.  He notes that the composition is loosely based on Ludovico Carracci's painting of the Circumcision, formerly in the church of San Bartolomeo di Reno in Bologna (destroyed in World War II).  Viani's composition is in the reverse direction and was, therefore, probably based on the engraving of Carracci's work made by Francesco Brizio (1574-1623).

This painting is probably identifiable with the work listed in two Italian inventories, one from the late 17^th century in Bologna and the other from the mid-18^th century in Rome.  A  painting on copper depicting the Circumcision and listed as by “Viani” appears in an inventory dated 19 May 1763 of property belonging to Silvestro Bonfiglioli, Bologna: “Un quadro in rame dipintovi la Circoncisione di N.ro Sig.re del S.r Viani in cornice dorata."¹  A companion piece by Viani depicting the Adoration of the Magi is also listed.  These two paintings are likely the same ones listed again in an inventory of circa 1763 of property belonging to Cardinal Silvio Valenti Gonzaga in the Villa Paolina, Rome: “Quadri alti palmi 3., once 3., larghi palmi 2., once 8., rappresentanti uno l’Adorazione de’ Re Maggi, e l’altro la Circoncisione, in rame, del Viani, Bolognese.”²  The measurements given in palmi and once, when converted to inches, correspond closely to the measurements of the present picture.

 

1.  "A picture on copper depicting the Circumcision of Our Lord by Mr Viani in a gilded frame," see The Getty Provenance Index Databases, Archival Inventory I-1300 (Bonfiglioli), item 41.
2. "Pictures 3 palmi, 3 once high, 2 palmi, 8 once wide, one representing the Adoration of the Magi and the other the Circumcision, on copper, by Viani, Bolognese," see ibid., Archival Inventory I-397 (Valenti Gonzaga), item 0811.