Echoes of the Past: Property from an Important Private Collection

Dr. Sandro Bellesi has previously confirmed in 2017 the attribution of the present work on the basis of photographs.

Provenance:

Jean-Luc Baroni, Ltd., London

Acquired from the above by the present owner

Literature:

Sandro Bellesi, Pittura e Scultura a Firenze (Secoli XVI-XIX), Florence, 2017, pp. 12-14, fig. 9, illus.

Lot Essay:

Cesare Dandini, a prominent Florentine painter of the 17th century, trained under Francesco Curradi, Cristofano Allori, and Domenico Cresti (Il Passignano). By 1621, he had established himself as an independent artist and quickly gained prestigious patrons, including Prince Don Lorenzo de’ Medici and Grand Duke Ferdinando II. Dandini became known for refined half-length allegorical and biblical figures, marked by rich color, graceful poses, and polished execution.

This painting of Saint John the Evangelist exemplifies Dandini’s mature style. The young saint, set against a plain background, is shown sharpening his quill while his Gospel lies open. His traditional symbol, the eagle, rests before him holding a large book. The cool tones of John’s skin and the vibrant sheen of his satin garments reflect Dandini’s fully developed technique and training.

A nearly identical version of this composition exists in the Guido Bruscoli collection in Florence. Dr. Sandro Bellesi dates that painting to the early 1630s and suggests the present work was completed later, with more refinement in the face and drapery. This painting may have been intended as part of a series of the Four Evangelists, a subject Dandini explored more than once during his career.