19TH CENTURY OIL ON CANVAS OF SYBILLA PERSICA

19TH CENTURY OIL ON CANVAS OF SYBILLA PERSICA

Code: 10108

Dimensions:

W: 50.5cm (19.9")D: 2cm (0.8")L: 62cm (24.4")

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AFTER GIOVANNI FRANCESCO BARBIERI KNOWN AS GUERCINO DUE TO HIS PERSISTANT SQUINT.  IN A STUDIO FRAME CIRCA 1850 OIL ON CANVAS OF SYBILLA PERSICA, ALSO KNOWN AS 'THE BABYLONIAN', HEBREW OR 'EGYPTIAN SIBYL'.  THE WORD SIBYL COMES FROM THE ANCIANT GREEK WORD 'SIBULLA' MEANING PROPHETESS.

WEAR CONSISTANT WITH AGE.  INITIALLY IT WAS THOUGHT THERE WAS SOME LATER OVER PAINTING ON THE YOKE AND INK WELL.  AFTER CONSULTING A CONSERVATOR, IT IS THIER OPINION THAT THESE ARE INDEED ORIGINAL AND WHILST THE ARTIST WAS UNDOUBTEDLY COMPETANT AT PORTRAITURE, THEIR SKILLS IN DRAPERY WERE A WORK IN PROGRESS.  THIS THEORY IS SUPPORTED BY THE SALE AT BONHAMS IN 2006 OF A VERY SIMILAR PAINTING WHERE UNDOUBTEDLY THE SITTER WAS THE SAME BUT THE TECHNICAL RENDER OF THE DRAPERY SHOWS IMPROVEMENT, BUT STILL WITH A SENSE OF NAIVETY.  IT IS OUR OPINION THAT THE TWO PAINTINGS ARE BY THE SAME HAND AND SHOW AN ARTIST DEVELOPING THEIR SKILLS.