SEGUIDOR DE CARLO MARATTA

(S. XVIII)

FOLLOWER OF CARLO MARATTA (18th century) "Romulus and Remus rescued by the shepherd Faustulus" .

Oil on canvas Provenance: Boston, Sam Cary collection (1769); Boston, E.M. Cary (1881); Madrid, private collection. On the back there is an old collection label indicating the provenance. It presents some damage and missing parts. The iconography of this painting is linked to the Founding of Rome (Livy 1:4 and Plutarch 2:4-6) and shows the moment when the twins Romulus and Remus are found by the shepherd Faustulus and presented to his wife. The figure next to the horse indicating the main group may be King Amulius, and beneath him is the Luperca, who until then had been in charge of caring for the children. The scene is overlooked by the River Tiber, accompanied by two water nymphs. The work is inspired by an original by Carlo Maratta that belonged to Niccolò Maria Pallavicini and is now in the Sanssouci Picture Gallery (Potsdam). Dimensions: . Measurements: 91 x 139 cm