Master of the grotesque vase(active in Rome and Naples in the first quarter of the 17th century) Still life of flowers in a classic vase Oil on canvas 66 x 51 cm Framed cm. 82 x 68 Full details of the artwork https://www.antichitacastelbarco.it/it/prodotto/natura-morta-con-vaso-classico-a-grottesche In this sumptuous still life we see a precious classicizing metal vase, partly gilded and embossed, animated by two projecting harpies serving as handles, which contains a valuable floral bouquet inside. Next to the vase, placed on a stone shelf, are two small birds arranged symmetrically facing each other. The elaborate artifact, as much a protagonist as the floral varieties it contains, has a capricious and bizarre shape, which draws inspiration from the still late-mannered taste. All this evokes the magnificent studies of vases made, between the 16th and 17th centuries, by Polidoro da Caravaggio. The shape and decoration of our vase reflect a widespread model in the 17th century, which art historians have gathered under the name of "Masters of grotesque vases". This name groups together a multiple of authors, probably active in different territories of central Italy, mainly Rome and Naples, but also in the North, in a time span extended throughout the 17th century. It is a production of paintings with a rather archaic approach, also very different from a stylistic and qualitative point of view, depicting bouquets of flowers in "ancient" vases. In particular, the painting offered here can be placed in the Neapolitan context due to its stylistic and compositional characteristics, with strong similarities to the painter Giacomo Recco (Naples 1603 - before 1653), in the context of his mature production, therefore around the middle of the 17th century. As an example, see: Recco Giacomo, Still life with vase of flowers (http://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/entry/work/90812/Recco%20Giacomo%2C%20Natura%20morta%20con%2...) Common peculiarities of these works are the use of embossed and chiseled metal vases in a Mannerist style with figurative handles and a richly decorated central body, and the support surfaces consisting of a simple parallelepiped of square stone isolated in the center of the pictorial field. Other common characteristics are the archaic, schematic and sometimes symmetrical approach of the bouquet of flowers, and above all the weak plastic and naturalistic rendering of the plants, which often appear as rigid shapes cut out and applied to the canvas. The painting is in excellent condition, perfectly restored, accompanied by a beautiful gilded frame. The work, like all our objects, is sold with a photographic certificate of authenticity according to law. Follow us on: https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/