Paolo Antonio Barbieri

Marchese Giovanni Battista Costabili Containi, Ferrara, before 1835;
By descent to his grandson and heir, Marchese Giovanni Costabili Containi, Ferrara;
By descent to his son, Marchese Alfonso Costabili Containi;
From whom acquired by the auctioneer, Angelo Genolini, Milan (along with most of the remaining Costabili Containi collection, for 10,000 lire);
By whom sold, "Collezione Costabili" sale, Milan, Sambon, 27 - 29 April 1885, lot 98. 

Marchese Giovanni Battista Costabili Containi collection inventory, 1835;
C. Laderchi, Descrizione della quadreria Costabili, part III, La scuola ferrarese nia secoli XVII e XVIII, parte quarta: Pittori d'More scuole, Ferrara 1841, p. 25, cat. no. 334;
G. Boschini, Vite de' pittori e scultori ferraresi, Ferrara 1844 - 1846, vol. II, p. 478;
G. Giordani, Catalogo de quadri di varie scuole pittoriche nella Galleria Costabili a Ferrara, Bologna 1871 - 1872, cat. no. 510;
E. Mattaliano, La collezione Costabili, Ferrara 1998, cat. no. 334;
E. Negro, La scuola del Guercino, Modena 2004, p. 89.

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 work is well restored and in fine condition. It should be hung as is. The canvas is lined. The paint layer, although slightly cracked, is well textured. There may be restorations in the dark background. However, given the excellent condition of the remainder of the picture, which shows only a few isolated retouches, no significant abrasion or loss is expected even in the darkest colors.
"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."

Still Life with pears, peaches, and figs... last appeared on the open art market when offered in the sale of the celebrated Costabili Collection in Milan in 1885, and is an important addition to the oeuvre of Paolo Antonio Barbieri, the younger brother of the revered Bolognese master, Guercino. Barbieri was amongst the earliest generations of still life painters in Italy and also collaborated with his brother on occasion. In addition to his career as an artist, Paolo Antonio Barbieri managed the business matters of his brother’s studio and was responsible for maintaining the Libro dei Conti, the listing of works painted by Guercino from 1629 on. The Libro dei Conti also contains records of the paintings executed by Barbieri, and from this listing, contemporary scholars have assembled the nucleus of artist's limited corpus consisting of just 42 paintings.

Barbieri’s works exhibit a conservative and refined approach to still life painting, clearly evident in Still Life with pears, peaches and figs... Each grouping of fruit or vegetables is thoughtfully and delicately placed, yet each object and placement seems premeditated and assertive within the composition. This meditation on space is a ubiquitous theme in Barbieri’s oeuvre. While the reserved aesthetic of Barbieri’s work is vastly different from the vigorous realism observed in the work of Guercino, Barbieri exhibits a dynamic use of light to sculpt and model the subjects of his compositions, perhaps his brother’s greatest technical achievement.

In an inventory of the Costabili Collection done in 1871, the present still life is listed under number 511: “Altre frutta con due sottocoppe o scodelle, dentro le quali stanno fichi e pere, pesche ed avvi anche un cocomero, su tela.” The pendant (sold at Sotheby’s New York in January 2008, lot 46) is also listed in the inventory, under number 510: “Frutta diverse tra quali delle ulive entro un sacchetto, tre melagrane, due cotogne e due piatti, sopra tela”  [Various fruits, among which, a small bag of olives, three pomegranates, two quinces and two plates, on canvas]. Both pictures are subsequently listed in the catalogue for the Costabili collection sale in 1885, under lots 98 and 99, described as “Fruits et accessoires de table” and both measuring 74 by 92 cm.