MATTIA PRETI | Saint Francis

Reichsfreiherr and Reichsgraf Marshal Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg, Venice, by 1738;
Thence by descent to his nephew, Christian Günther von der Schulenburg, Berlin, until 1765;
Thence by descent in the Schulenburg Family, Hannover;
By whom sold, London, Sotheby's, 10 December 1986, lot 31;
There acquired by a private collection until 2016.

Possibly Hannover, Niedersächsisches Landesmuseum Hannover, circa 1950-1980.

A. Binion, La Galleria scomparsa del maresciallo von der Schulenburg: un mecenate nella Venezia del Settecento, Milan 1990, p. 194, under the 1738 inventory of Schulenburg's collection in Venice (as Cavalier Calabrese);
J.T. Spike, Mattia Preti: catalogo ragionato dei dipinti, Taverna 1999, p. 160, cat. no. 71, reproduced.

Mattia Preti, a Baroque artist practicing in Italy and Malta, was known for immortalizing religious and philosophical scenes in his paintings.  This work, which dates to circa 1653-60, was made during Preti's Neapolitan period when he was inspired by Jusepe de Ribera's paintings. Preti dramatizes this realistic depiction of Saint Frances through its bold use of chiaroscuro, as a half-moon shaped shadow is casted on his face, emphasizing the enlightenment he reached through the rays of God.  The nocturnal effect Preti created in this composition is similar to a painting in a private collection that has been dated to 1656-60 and depicts Saint Peter with keys.¹ 1. See J.T. Spike, Mattia Preti: catalogo ragionato dei dipinti, Taverna 1999, p. 160, cat. no. 317, reproduced.