Italian Artist, Transit of Saint Joseph, 1720, Oil on Canvas

Splendid religious painting from the first half of the 18th century. Oil painting on canvas attributable to the Italian painter Simone Brentana (1654-1742), lacking authentication. A pupil of Pietro Negri in Venice and particularly influenced by the ways of Antonio Balestra and Claudio Ridolfi, his painting is expressed in a tender baroque nuance, a luminous background and always enchanting colours. Even on this particular occasion such a dramatic theme is resolved in a dynamic composition and interpreted in such a happy way that even Tiepolo will be inspired by his style. Great oil artwork on canvas depicting the transit of Saint Joseph. Jesus' father lies on the bed placed in the center of a room where heaven and earth come together in a single environment. At the bedside we find the Madonna intent on reading the sacred writings and thus cheering the difficult passage between life and death. At the center of the scene, Jesus looks at his dying father and with a gesture seems to almost tear apart the clouds filled with masterfully painted angels and cherubs. We find another sorrowful angel at the bottom left and he carries with him a flowering stick, symbol of Saint Joseph. In fact, the high priest had distributed branches waiting for a divine sign and thus decide who would be Mary's husband. The branch that flourished was that of Giuseppe, the eldest of the boys. Painting of extraordinary pictorial quality, particularly evident in the creation of the drapery. Antique frame in carved and gilded wood, of great elegance, with some signs of aging. Painting that has undergone restoration with relining, replacement of the frame and recovery of color in small spots. Overall in excellent state of conservation. Sight size H 180 x W 147 cm.