Giovanni Grevenbroeck, known as il Solfarolo (Netherlands, ca. 1650 – Milan, after 1699) Moonlit harbor view Oil on canvas (cm 70 x 132 - Framed 86 x 146 cm) Critical apparatus: Expertise by Emilio Negro DETAILS (link) We are pleased to present this pleasant nocturnal coastal view illuminated by the cold moonlight, set in a fantastical port with an almost surreal atmosphere, made fascinating by the use of almost monochrome colors with a characteristic dominant brown tone softened by golden reflections. The marine scene is organized on the skillful combination of realistic data with others of pure fantasy, and is therefore characterized by steep heights, imaginary constructions, numerous boats and the presence of many characters engaged in their activities. This compositional choice echoes the works of the numerous northern European artists active in Italy during the 17th century - from Pieter Mulier (Cavalier Tempesta) to Adriaen van der Cabel just to name a couple - who spread an alternative to classicist views, combining the realistic vision with details resulting from their imagination. All these elements - combined with the unmistakable clouds with typical atmospheric, chromatic and light values - allow us to connect our painting to the pictorial corpus of Giovanni Grevenbroeck (Netherlands, ca. 1650 – Milan, after 1699), founder of the family of painters originally from the Netherlands. The painting expresses all the stylistic and pictorial characteristics of his works, in one of the subjects preferred by his famous workshop: the scene set in a fantastic port is the most typical of his repertoire, always halfway between figurative description and caprice. After completing his apprenticeship in Flanders, Giovanni Grevenbroeck arrived in Italy, precisely in Rome, receiving numerous commissions from the great noble families, such as the Colonna. The Roman stay is however a brief parenthesis of his career, which will take place largely in Milan, from 1672, where he spent most of his life painting landscapes and seascapes at dawn and dusk to great success, reported in the inventories of the most important local collections of the time. His numerous compositions evoke, as also happens in the canvas in question, also the qualities of seventeenth-century Roman landscape painting, enlivened both by the northern European examples of Claude Lorrain and by the central Italian ones of Salvator Rosa, with the particularity of rendering his coastal views as flaming views that entrust the task of highlighting the naturalistic details with its typical atmospheric tones to the light component. To be convinced of the attribution, it will therefore be enough to compare the canvas with most of his pictorial corpus, in particular the seascapes at dawn and dusk of Chateauroux (Musée Bertrand) or, even more so, the Seaports of Alençon (Musée des Beaux-arts et de la Dentelle), works sometimes attributed to one or the other of his sons, but attributable to Giovanni thanks to the most recent studies of the prolific work of this active family of seventeenth-century view painters. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The work is completed by an antique frame and is sold with a certificate of authenticity and guarantee. We take care of and organize the transport of purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. It is also possible to see the painting in the gallery in Riva del Garda, we will be happy to welcome you to show you our collection of works. Contact us, without obligation, for any additional information. Follow us also on: INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco