Biblical Scene with Figures and a Dolmen
Painting on canvas • Italian School, possibly follower of Salvator Rosa or Leonardo Coccorante
Style & Movement
Neoclassical with Late Baroque/Romantic influences (Italian Veduta Ideata)
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, employing sfumato for the atmospheric sky and thin glazes for the rocky landscape.
Creation Period
Late 18th century (c. 1760-1790)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 60 x 80 cm (Landscape format)
Subject Description
A group of figures in pastoral/biblical attire gathered amidst a landscape featuring a prominent prehistoric megalith (dolmen). Figures on the right appear to be in discussion or resting against a rocky cliff, while others gesture toward the stone structure under a dramatic, hazy sunset sky.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; shows typical signs of age-related wear including yellowing of the varnish and minor surface grime.
Estimated Market Value
$3,000 - $6,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$2,000 - $4,500 USD
Provenance History
Likely from a European private collection; the gilded frame suggests it was housed in a formal gallery setting during the 19th century.
Art Historical Significance
A representative example of 18th-century Italian landscape painting that blends historical/biblical narrative with the 'sublime' elements of nature, typical for the period's interest in ruins and the ancient world.
Notable Features
The presence of a dolmen is an unusual iconographic choice for the Italian school, suggesting an interest in archeology or northern European megalithic subjects rendered through an Italianate lens.
Condition Issues
Visible craquelure across the sky, significant yellowing of the old protective varnish, and possible lining of the canvas detected by the tension.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional surface cleaning and varnish removal followed by a fresh layer of non-yellowing dammar varnish; humidity-controlled environment.
Collector Notes
18th century Italian school