LUCA GIORDANO Naples, Italy (1632) / Madrid (1705) "The Ann

Oil on canvas. Old ownership label on the back (illegible). The Neapolitan Luca Giornado is considered one of the most important painters of the late 17th century, achieving great fame in both Italy and Spain, especially after settling at the Spanish court on July 3, 1692, remaining in that country for a decade. This canvas of the Annunciation must have been painted during this same period, during the first years of his stay in Madrid. We can appreciate the characteristics of his style, such as his characteristic loose brushstrokes and rapid lines, a reflection of his speed when painting, which led to the painter being known as the "Fa presto." Although he trained around Ribera, he gained firsthand knowledge of Venetian painting by studying the great works of the masters of this school. This canvas features Venetian-style coloring and models that are directly derived from an Annunciation painted by Titian, popularized through Jacopo Caraglio's engraving. As Dr. Nicola Spinosa points out, the painting is closely related to the work of the same name in the Molinari Pradelli collection in Castenaso (Bologna) and some of the Marian paintings held in the Vienna Museum. We would like to thank Dr. Nicola Spinosa for his assistance in cataloging this lot. Dimensions: 124 x 160 cm.