Lot 196: Carlantonio Procaccini (Bologna 1571- c. 1630 Milan)

The Temptation in the wilderness
oil on copper
13 x 17 1/4 in. (33 x 43.8 cm.)

Viscountess Maria Monck, 1970, and by descent to the present owner.

PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION

The son of Ercole Procaccini I, and brother of Camillo and Giulio Cesare, Carlantonio enjoyed a considerable reputation during his lifetime painting still lifes, religious works (including frescoes for the Chapel of Saint Francesco and the Church of Saint Angelo, Milan) and landscapes such as the present work.

In an article in Paragone (XVI, 1965, pp. 43ff., 'Un Italiano nell era dell' Elsheimer'), Roberto Longhi publishes two works by Carlantonio, Christ curing the Blind Man and Mercury and Herse, which like The Rest on the Flight into Egypt (Trafalgar Galleries, London, Trafalgar Galleries at the Royal Academy, London, 1983, no. 17), The Garden of Eden (Anonymous sale, Sotheby's, New York, 3 June 1988, lot 31), Stoning of Saint Stephen (Anonymous sale, Christie's, New York, 31 January, 1997, lot 3) and the present painting, establish an important link between Paul Bril, Adam Elsheimer, and Jan Brueghel I who was in Milan in 1596 to work for Cardinal Federico Borromeo.