MANNER OF BENEDETTO SARTORI | A pair of 'trompe l'œil' still lifes

inscribed with dedication lower right: 'Al Mllo Ille Sign mio' / 'Pro. Altmo il Sign Francesco' / 'Baccazini in' / 'Roma'a pair, both oil on canvas, one unlined Sartori, who was active in the Veneto during the first half of the 18th century, was one of the earliest specialists in 'trompe l'œil', which in French translates to 'to deceive the eye.' Using realistic imagery to create optical illusions, the artist fools us into thinking that the depicted objects before us exist in three dimensions – ultimately making us question the boundary between the painted world and our own reality.

All paintings available to view at the Sotheby’s Greenford Park warehouse, 5 - 7 and 10 – 13 September (10 - 4pm), by appointment. Still life with gun: the canvas is lined, the paint surface is dirty and the varnish slightly discoloured. There is a horizontal line of discoloured retouching, which runs the width of the canvas in the upper half of the composition, probably to an old tear. There is also visible retouching to an old damage, approx. 2 x 2 cm. in the little box, lower centre. Inspection under ultraviolet light confirms these and reveals a fairly extensive campaign of retouching, mostly throughout the background and the write sheets of paper. Still life with glasses: the canvas is unlined, the paint surface is dirty and the varnish slightly discoloured. There is some tenting and some small losses in the torn sheet, upper centre, as well as further pinprick losses in the calendar, upper right. There is an area of visible retouching in the upper right corner, measuring 10 x 5 cm. Inspection under ultraviolet light confirms this and reveals further spot retouchings scattered throughout, most notably in the torn sheet, upper centre, and a larger area below the shelf, measuring 4 x 4 cm.
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