Lot 113: Louis de Caullery , Cambrai before 1582 - 1621 Antwerp Rome, a view of Castel Sant'angelo with figures revelling outdoors, with fireworks and a catherine wheel above them oil on copper

stamped on the reverse with the maker's mark of Peeter Stas oil on copper

measurements note 48.6 by 67 cm.; 19 1/8 by 26 3/8 in.

Anonymous sale ("The Property of a European Nobleman"), London, Christie's, 28 May 2006, lot 16.

Probably born in Caulery, Cambrai, Louis de Caullery was in Antwerp training under Joos de Momper by 1594, going on to become a Master of the Guild of Saint Luke in 1602. There are a number of Italian cityscapes, such as the present painting, included in his varied oeuvre which has often led to the assumption that De Caullery travelled widely in Italy, including the cities of Venice, Florence and Rome. However there is no evidence to support this theory, or to suggest the De Caullery ever left Antwerp. It is much more probable that these Italian cityscapes were either derived from, or loosely based on, engravings, especially as the majority depict popular celebratory events often engraved. Examples include the Ascension Day in Venice (The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, Durham) and the present painting which depicts the firework display held annually at the Castel Sant'Angelo on Easter Monday and on the 29υth of June to mark the feast day of the Saints Peter and Paul. Both events were much written about in contemporary sources and apparently drew huge crowds. Despite being based on an engraving the present painting admirably depicts the sense of busy excitement contemporary descriptions record. This composition is know in another version, with differences to the staffage and less fireworks , which sold London, Sotheby's, 27 April 2006, lot 15.