Still life with apples, pears, figs and melon, a 14 x 23in (35 x 59cm) oil on panel by Fede Galizia, is available from Colnaghi.
Running at the London gallery from April 27-June 24, it features works from artists such as Caterina Angela Pierozzi, Clara Peeters and Rachel Ruysch, but has the Galizia as the centrepiece.
Titled Still life with apples, pears, figs and melon, the 14 x 23in (35 x 59cm) oil on panel reflects Galazia’s naturalistic style and use of precise brushwork to create detailed compositions. An acquaintance of Jan Brueghel and possibly Caravaggio, she was among the earliest Italian painters of still-lifes, though she left many unsigned.
The picture in question bears a collector’s mark – the letters SG with a crown above – for Prince Sebastián Gabriel de Borbón (1811-75), and was inherited from his first wife, Amalia of Naples (1818-57). It is likely that the painting entered the collection through an agent and ambassador of the couple during a diplomatic visit to northern Italy.
Colnaghi CEO Jorge Coll says: “Forbidden Fruit offers a unique opportunity for our clients and visitors to enjoy never-before-seen masterworks by female artists who pioneered the still-life genre, were successful during their lifetimes, and who pushed the art form forwards.”
Prices in the show range from €250,000-2.5m.
