MAURO GANDOLFI | Head of a man wearing a turban

Private collection, Italy;
Anonymous sale, Munich, Hampel, 5 July 2017, lot 40 (as 18th century Emilian School, circle of Gaetano Gandolfi).

The canvas is lined and the paint surface and varnish are both relatively clean. The painting is in overall good condition. Much of the impasto brushwork remains intact, but in other areas the ground is more obvious. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals retouching along a fine line along the right-hand margin, caused by the stretcher, and lines of strengthening around the hand, folds in the turban and collar, and in the man’s ear. There are also some fine retouchings around the man’s eye and nostril. Offered in a carved and gilt wood frame in very good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This painting reproduces the head study by Gaetano Gandolfi, today in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art,¹ which served as the model for the old man on the left of his monumental Wedding at Cana of 1775, originally intended for the refectory of the convent of San Salvatore, now in the Pinacoteca Nazionale, Bologna.² Mauro Gandolfi was the eldest of seven of Gaetano's children. After running away from home at the age of 16 and joining the French Army, he returned to Bologna in 1786 and began practising as an artist. His father Gaetano was his teacher, and Mauro made a number of drawings and paintings after his work while he trained in Gaetano's studio.

We are grateful to Prof. Donatella Biagi Maino for endorsing the attribution to Mauro following first-hand inspection of the painting, and for dating it to the earliest part of his career. The work will be included in her forthcoming monograph on the artist.

1 Inv. no. M.82.199; see D. Biagi Maino, Gaetano Gandolfi, Turin 1995, p. 370, cat. no. 98, reproduced fig. 117.
2 Inv. no. 1468; see Biagi Maino 1995, pp. 370–71, cat. no. 101, reproduced in colour pl. LXVIII, and fig. 112.