FG FINE ART LTD
Francesco Botti
Florence, 1645 - 1711
Botti reveals a well-defined personality that shows traits of originality and personalised reworkings, also as a result of keeping up to date with the artistic events of his time. Botti soon entered the workshop of Simone Pignoni, collaborating with him for a long time in the execution of public and private works and perfectly assimilating his pictorial language. His training most likely ended in the 70s after a short study period in Venice. Returning to Florence, Botti enrolled at the Accademia del Disegno in 1678, beginning an independent activity that showed an updating of his style on the Cortonesque painting of Livio Mehus and Pier Dandini.
Cleopatra
Oil on canvas, 78.4 x 99.3 cm
Provenance
Private collection
This elegant canvas illustrates Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt, whose beauty could subjugate any man. Woman, queen, and lover, she is depicted sumptuously dressed and adorned with pearls, gold, and precious stones in the moment right after her deadly snake bite.
Free from pathetic or melodramatic tones, as the theme would dictate, Cleopatra offers the viewer the candour of her own flesh and her rich dress, which a crisp light helps to highlight. Remarkable is the dynamic tone of the composition to which the slight torsion of the protagonist contributes.
While the composition of our painting shows a particular harmony with the forms and canons adopted by Cesare Dandini, from the point of view of subject, pictorial conduct and expressiveness they confidently refer us to the Florentine Francesco Botti as confirmed by Francesca Baldassari.
Within his oeuvre, the greatest affinities in style, in compositional cut and pictorial choice, rich in contrasting hues and nuanced effects, are found with Clorinda (Florence, Depositi delle Gallerie fiorentine) and with Sofonisba of the Museo Civico di Montepulciano.
A full fact sheet is available on request.