GIUSEPPE CESARI, CALLED THE CAVALIER D'ARPINO | PERSEUS AND ANDROMEDA

Dr. Herwarth Röttgen considers this small painting on marble, called pietro paesina, an important addition to the Cavaliere d'Arpino's oeuvre and dates it to circa 1593-1594. Like the artist's painting of the same subject and date in the Saint Louis Art Museum,² here, the artist works with the structure and surface of a rare medium to create his scene. In the Saint Louis example, the rich blue of lapis lazuli serves as the backdrop for the sky, whereas in the present, the marble and its varied striations create a framing rock for the scene. Works like this display Cavaliere d'Arpino's appreciation and response the the Wunderkammer tradition. 

1. Dr. Röttgen's expertise, dated 22 November 2015, is available upon request. 

2. 20.2 by 15.6 cm, oil on lapis lazuli, inv. no. 1.2000.