Mattia Preti, 1613 Taverna/Catanzaro – 1699 Valletta, Malta, zug.
SEMI-PICTURE OF A BEARDED MAN
Oil on canvas.
63,5 x 49 cm.

The painting is accompanied by a detailed documentation with comparative examples of Mattia Preti's works, written by the Galleria Giamblanco, Turin, with references.

The bust portrait is shown in full format with the right shoulder turned towards the viewer, dressed in a cream-brown coat with dark lapel and a crimped collar. The head bare-headed with brown hair on the sides, white at the temples, in full beard black with white strands. The gaze is directed at the observer, whereby compositionally it is noticeable that the eye, which is opened with interest, lies in the absolute centre of the upper section of the picture under raised eyebrows, while the overall composition has a diagonal from top left to bottom right. The light-dark perception of light points to the style of Caravaggism of the time. It is the result of a stay in Rome, where he met painters such as Domenico Zampieri (1581-1641) and Giovanni Lanfranco (1582-1647) and studied the frescoes in the Galleria Farnese by Annibale Carracci (1560-1609).Literature:
John Spike, Mattia Preti. Catalogo Ragionato dei Dipinti, Florence 1999.
Giorgio Leone (eds.), Mattia Preti. Un giovane nella Roma dopo Caravaggio, Rome 2015.
Alessandro Cosma (ed.), Yuri Primarosa (ed.), Il trionfo dei sensi. Nuova luce su Mattia e Gregorio Preti, Rome 2019. (12218013) (3) (11)


Mattia Preti,
1613 Taverna/Catanzaro - 1699 Valletta/ Malta, attributed
HALF-PORTRAIT OF A BEARDED MAN
Oil on canvas.
63.5 x 49 cm.

A detailed documentation with examples of comparison of works by Mattia Pretis is enclosed, written by the Galleria Giamblanco, Turin, with literature references.

The chiaroscuro suggests the style of Caravaggio typical for the period. It is a result of his stay in Rome, where he met painters such as Domenico Zampieri (1581-1641) and Giovanni Lanfranco (1582-1647) and engaged with the frescoes at the Galleria Farnese by Annibale Carracci (1560-1609).

Literature:
J. Spike, Mattia Preti. Catalogo Ragionato dei Dipinti, Florence 1999.
G. Leone (ed.), Mattia Preti. Un giovane nella Roma dopo Caravaggio, Rome 2015.
A. Cosma, Y. Primarosa (ed.), Il trionfo dei sensi. Nuova luce su Mattia e Gregorio Preti, Rome 2019.