Jan Frans van Bloemen, dit l'Orizzonte

A l’oeil nu : Le tableau apparaît dans un état de conservation satisfaisant. Il a fait l’objet d’un rentoilage réalisé à la fin du XXe siècle, correctement réalisé. Il a également fait l’objet d’un nettoyage à la même période, réalisé un peu fort et qui a supprimé quelques glacis notamment dans les feuillages. A la lampe UV : Le tableau apparaît sous un vernis uniforme légèrement vert. On ne remarque pas de restauration. To the naked eye : The painting appears in satisfactory condition. It has been correctly relined in the late 20th century. It has also been cleaned at the same period, a little bit too strong, removing some glazes, specially on the foliage. Under the UV lamp : The painting appears under a slightly green uniform varnish. We cannot notice any restoration.
"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 painting is accompanied by a certificate issued by Andrea Busiri Vici dated 1984 attesting to the authenticity of the work.

Frans van Bloemen, despite being born in Antwerp, also illustrates this Paris-Rome connection which is the common link of the collection that we present.
Before settling in Rome, counting siblings as painters, he left Antwerp with one of his brothers for Paris where he lived for two years. Nicknamed, by his friends from the Bentvueghels group (collective of Dutch and Flemish artists mostly active in Rome between 1620 and 1720), the Orizzonte because of his Arcadian landscapes with low horizons, he never left the Eternal City. Frans van Bloemen is the artist par excellence of the Roman countryside. In his landscapes, the Eternal City is never far and very often one distinguishes its outline. His landscapes are imbued with a Classicism inherited from Lorrain and Gaspard Dughet. His clientele, mostly from Roman nobility, liked to have their villas depicted. Among his prestigious patrons we can list the Queen of Spain, Elisabeth Farnese and the Pope. In his vedute, bathed in the golden light typical of Italy, the blending of realistic representations of nature and Arcadian scenes made him successful. According to Busiri Vici, the real protagonists of his works are trees which often frame a depiction of successive planes allowing the spectator to walk in this countryside filled with poetry.