Francesco Noletti, called il Maltese, A still life with fruit on a carpet
Old Master Paintings auction, 19th April 2016 – Lot 49
Francesco Noletti certainly knew how to keep it real. We know very little about this painter from Malta (hence il “Maltese”), who specialized in portraying very realistic, oriental carpets and fruit bowls during his residence in Rome in the mid-17th century, but it cannot be denied that his large-scale work in Dorotheum’s old master paintings auction certainly delivers a high-quality and masterly viewing experience.
A Summary
The painting is full of character and, from a contemporary viewpoint, seems to be accentuated in a very modern manner with masterful brushstrokes. Noletti emphasizes the effects of light and shadow on the decoratively draped material and this puts the viewer in mind of the dramatic contrast between light and dark typical of Caravaggio and of naturalism, the movement seen as revolutionary at the time. Another “naturalist” feature of the painting is the depiction of the red damask carpet, which almost functions as a frame, and which further accents the centrally positioned still life of a fruit bowl.
At the time of the painting’s production, the still life genre had reached great popularity in the aftermath of Caravaggio’s death. While some still life artists specialized in painting flowers, fruits, and vegetables, others did so in weapons and game hunting, and Noletti himself was a specialist in painting carpets, textiles, and musical instruments.
Il Maltese, unlike many other painters, understood how to convey the impression of wealth and luxury in his paintings by means of little detail. There are two comparable paintings in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, one of the world’s most important museums. “Still Life with an Oriental Carpet” is particularly similar to the picture in the Dorotheum. This painting, until now unknown and unpublicized, will be offered at the old master paintings auction on 19th April, and is certainly one of the most beautiful works produced by the painter.
Old Master Paintings auction
Tuesday 19th April 2016, 5:00 pm
Exhibition until 19th April 2016
Palais Dorotheum
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