"Trionfo della virtù", a cavalcade and tournament held in Modena to celebrate the birth of a prince, 1660
Artist/Maker
Material / Technique
Dimensionsh x w: Mått h x w: 34 x 72 cm
Inventory numberNMH 190/1863
AcqusitionTransferred 1866 from Kongl. Museum (Carl Gustaf Tessin)
Other titlesTitel (sv): "Trionfo della virtù", en kavalkad och tornering hållen i Modena för att fira födelsen av en prins, 1660 Titel (en): "Trionfo della virtù", a cavalcade and tournament held in Modena to celebrate the birth of a prince, 1660 Titel i inventariet (sv): Stor Carousell med många figurer
DescriptionDescription: The sheet, made up of two pieces of paper joined horizontally, was cut into three vertical parts and re-joined. There are also two vertical folds. Some dark brown stains. Laid down Numbered in pen and black ink at lower right corner: 15, inscribed on the mount: Cabinet de Crozat (Tessin), and STEFANO DELLA BELLA/Fiorentino Intagliatore,/d'anni 54 mori nel 1664 (Ascagne della Penna?) Wengström identified the drawing as depicting a festival held in Modena, by comparing it with the set of engravings executed by della Bella representing "La Gara delle Stagioni", a cavalcade arranged there 10 april 1652 in honour of the archdukes Ferdinand and Sigismond of Austria and the archduchess Anna of Tuscany. On this occasion Bartolomeo Avanzini built a theatre with galleries in three tears surrounding the court of the Palazzo Ducale. The performance was executed with machines invented by Gaspare Vigarani and the decorations were by Giovanni Giacomo Monti and Baldassare Bianchi. Although the structure represented in the present drawing shows essential differences from the theatre used for "La Gara delle Stagioni", it seems quite plausible to suggest that it was erected on the same spot. Wengström also supposed this to be the case and forwarded a hypothesis that the performance represented could have taken place in 1655 in connection with the festivities of the marriage of the Prince d'Este to Laura Martinozzi. The hypothesis has proved to be wrong. It has, however been possible to identify the occasion through a set of twentysix engravings with the title "Il Trionfo della Virtù, Festa d'Armi a Cavallo, rappresentata nella nascita del Prencipe di Modena, 1660". At least fifteen of these were signed by Francesco Stringa. One reproduces our drawing partly in the same direction, partly in reverse, with the title "Teatro nel qvale si e representato il Trionfo della Virtù Festa fatta per la nascita del Sermo Prencipe di Modana l'anno MDCLX". The orher prints of the set depict the different virtues and some of the figures in the tournament. There is no reason to believe that della Bella was ever involved with this tournament. Stylistically the drawing does not fit into della Bella's oeuvre while on the other hand stage as well as costumes remind very closely of "La Gara delle Stagioni". The drawing therefore probably is a work of Stringa who has quite simply reused della Bella's stage and costumes for the new occasion [Bjurström, It. Drawings, cat. no. 1237]
Collection
Geographical origin
TechniqueDrawing
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