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MICHELANGELO CERQUOZZI | Commedia dell'Arte troupe performing in an interior
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 USD
Sold
60,000 USD
bidding is closed
Description
- Michelangelo Cerquozzi
- Commedia dell'Arte troupe performing in an interior
- signed on the edge of the stage, lower right: M[B?]CF
- oil on canvas
Provenance
Anonymous sale, Zürich, Schuler, 11 December 2009, lot 4315.
Catalogue Note
The Commedia dell'Arte was a subject popular with the Bamboccianti, the group of Northern European artists active in Rome in the 1630s around Pieter van Laer (nick-named il Bamboccio), who specialised in paintings of low-life scenes set in the Roman campagna. Here, depicted lower left and right are the zanni - the clowns - one in bright costume, drinking from a flagon, another with a long nose and guitar watching the musical gathering on the stage. Behind him is the doctor, a character habitually portrayed as an incompetent charlatan - he is shown here leading a hapless buffoon, most probably towards some kind of quack form of treatment.