Architectural Capricii with Figures amongst Classical Ruins....

Hammer

£18,000

Architectural Capricii with Figures amongst Classical Ruins. A pair. Oil on canvas. Giuseppe Zocchi. Italian 1711-1767. Pair documented in Giancarlo Sestieri's Capriccio Il Architettonico in Italia nel XVII e XVIII secolo catalogue raisonné; pgs 342-343; 18a, 18b. 

Zocchi is best known for architectural capriccios and also vedute, or topographical views, particularly of the city of Florence and its surroundings. His output was both prodigious and varied and as a young man, he came under the protection of the Marchese Andrea Gerini (1691 - 1766), an intellectual and patron of the arts from a noble Florentine family, who sent the artist to study the works of his contemporaries in Bologna, Rome, Milan, and Venice during which time Zocchi was exposed to the work of artists such as Canaletto, Marieschi and Panini. On his return to Florence, the Marchese commissioned Zocchi to produce the Selection of XXIV Views of the principal Districts, Squares, Churches, and Palaces of the City of Florence and of Views of Villas and of Places in Tuscany; a two fold series of engravings of the city and its environs intended to give to visitors as a memento of their stay in the city. In the years following publication of this series in 1744, Zocchi embarked on one of the most industrious periods of his career. He produced drawings and engravings for various printed works such as the Azioni gloriose degli uomini illustri fiorentini espresso co'loro ritratti nelle volte della Real Galleria di Toscana, amongst others, he took part in the decorative scheme of the church of San Carlo dei Barnabiti and completed numerous other public and private commissions throughout Tuscany including the decoration of the archbishop's palace in Pisa and the Palazzo Rinuccini in Florence. From 1750 onwards, Zocchi was taken on by the 'Galleria dei Lavori in Pietre Dure' in Florence to supply drawings and painted models for the Grand ducal workshop. He remained in this position until his death from the plague in 1767.  

Provenance:

• Collection of Dimitri Sursock, Beirut, and London.


• Thence by descent


• Sale, Bonhams, London, Old Master Paintings, 4 July 2018, lot 94, where purchased by the present owner.