GIOVANNI BATTISTA GIGOLA | PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG MAN

Sale, Geneva, Sotheby's, 17 May 1984, lot 128

The costume, including a ruff and lace cravat, indicates that the sitter was a member of the Viceregal Court of Italy. Having trained in Rome and Paris, Brescia-born Gigola moved to Milan in 1805, entering the service of Eugene de Beauharnais who had been appointed Viceroy of Italy in the same year. It is interesting to note Gigola’s increased mastery of painting in enamel in the present work compared with his first attempt, the reverse of which records: ‘PRIMO/SMALTO/ DI G.B. GIGOLA ___/ RAPPRESENTE/ IL SUO PRINCIPE/ PROTETTORE/ DELLE/ ARTI’¹. This first essay in enamel painting depicts his patron Beauharnais wearing a similar ruff and cravat.

^1. Parisio, Brescia, 2002, cat. nos. 62a & 62b