Rinaldo Battles a Woman
Charles Vanlo, 1782
Charles Vanlo, 1782
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Charles Vanlo (1705- 1765) (after)
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This print is after one of eleven paintings in the royal palace at Turin originally completed in 1733 by the French painter better known as Carle Vanloo (1705-1765). (Sometimes he signed his name "Charles Vanlo," as in this print.) The paintings illustrate the story of Armida, Rinaldo, Erminia and Tancred, characters who first appeared in an epic poem called Jerusalem Delivered by the Italian poet Torquato Tasso (1544-95), and subsequently became popular characters in operas, poems and paintings. Rinaldo and Tancred are knights on the first of the Christian Crusades, Armida is an enchantress and their adversary, and Erminia is the daughter of a former Saracen king who falls in love with Tancred. In this scene, Rinaldo battles a woman armed with a spear.
From 1732-33, Vanloo completed two major commissions for palazzi there, including the royal palace at Turin, where he painted 11 works as part of a decorative scheme. This print is based on one of those paintings, which is installed to the right of a doorway (see above). Both Italy and France were important centers of religious and historical murals and ceilings painted in a decorative style. Vanloo's style was influenced by Italian painting, but he was associated with the French Rococo style, however, his version was more restrained than that of his contemporary Boucher or his student Fragonard. Carlo Antonio Porporati was an Italian painter and engraver. According to the inscription on the print, he was also the "Garde des Dessins de S.M. le Roi de Sardaigne, des Academies Royales de Peinture et Sculpture de Turin et Paris" (Keeper of Designs of His Majesty the King of Sardinia, of the Royal Academies of Painting and Sculpture of Turin and Paris). Generally very good, with only minimal toning, wear, soft creases, and short marginal tears. References: Debrabandère-Descamps, Beatrice. "Years of youth of Carle Vanloo (1705- 1735)," 2001, http://www.lou-nissart.com/archives/beauxarts/exposition/cvl4.html "Torquato Tasso," 2002, http://www.abcgallery.com/liter/tasso.html "Treasure of the Month." St. Petersburg, Florida: Museum of Fine Arts. 1998. http://www.fine-arts.org/treasure/may_98/may98_treasure.html |