08/11/2001

An exhibition entitled “Invenzioni” showing over a dozen late 17th and early 18th century bozzetti and modelli, or small preparatory oil sketches and studies, will open at the Marco Riccomini gallery, Milan from the 8th of November to the 1st of December. In this specialist exhibition with prices ranging from $ 10,200-36,450 (€ 11,360-40,590), each of the paintings are studies for larger works. For example Vincenzo Camuccini’s Death of Julius Caesar, an oil on canvas measuring 17.5 x 28.2 cm is a study for the finished version kept at the Museo di Capodimonte in Naples. Again a small oil on canvas of a soldier wearing a helmet, is a study for Giuseppe Bottani’s Death of Mezio Fufezio now kept in a private collection (Zucchi Castellini di Pontremoli) while an oil on card applied on canvas and called an Allegory of Spring has been proven to be a study for Ignazio Stern’s work of the same name kept at the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Kassel, Germany. This annual winter exhibition at Riccomini is currently in its fifth year. In the opinion of Marco Riccomini the exhibition’s specialist focus contrasts sharply with most Old Master and 19th century dealers (or antiquari) exhibitions in Milan and Rome, which typically put on exhibitions with a mix of paintings, furniture and decorative objects. For more information contact +39.02.801457 or e-mail riccomini@dada.it. (Andrew Moore)