Gaspare Diziani

Anonymous sale, Paris, Ader Picard Tajan, 22 June 1990, lot 26 (as Francesco Fontebasso);
There acquired by the present collector for $142,272.

E. Lucchese, "Sebastiano Ricci e Dintorni, Appunti sulla pittura del Settecento veneziano," in Studi di studia dell'arte, vol. 21, 2010, p. 222, reproduced p. 223, fig. 30 (as Gaspare Diziani).

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 has certainly not been restored for many years. It is noticeably dirty. There is a canvas stretched across the reverse, but it does not seem to be adhered to the original canvas, or at least not fully adhered. There is an original join to the canvas across the top, about 2 inches from the edge. The painting may have never been properly cleaned, and the condition is very good in most areas. However, the brown curtain hanging in the upper left has developed noticeable cracking, which extends into the hair of the standing figure and into his shoulders. This instability has not given rise to any losses in the face at present, but there are a few losses above the figure's head. There are possibly some older restorations in this area addressing earlier instability. There are restorations in the lower right corner and in a few other isolated spots. This picture would respond extremely well to restoration.
"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."

Diziani’s initial training was with Antonio Lazzarini in Belluno. He later moved to Venice where he was employed in the workshop of Gregorio Lazzarini and, eventually, that of Sebastiano Ricci.  It was the latter artist who ultimately had the strongest influence on Diziani’s style.  Diziani produced historical, mythological and religious works, and also worked as a scenery painter in numerous Venetian theaters, leading to other commissions in Munich and Dresden. 

The subject of the infant Moses trampling on the crown of Pharaoh is told by Josephus in Antiquities of the Jews (Book 2,  9:7).  Having been rescued and adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter, Moses was presented to her father.  When Pharaoh playfully placed his crown on the infant’s head, Moses threw it on the ground and tread on it, an omen that he would eventually overthrow Pharoah.

Another painting of this subject by Diziani is in the National Museum, Warsaw (oil on canvas, 79 by 96 cm.). That painting is datable to circa 1740-1747.

We are grateful to Marina Magrini for her assistance in cataloguing this lot.