Exhibitions in Paris galleries: Moretti and Galerie Canesso

The plague, with its buboes and corpses, inspired miracles in saints and masterpieces in artists, as witnessed by Antonio Gherardi’s Saint Charles Borromeo Giving the Eucharist to the Pestiferous (ill. 1). Previously shown at the Florence Biennale in 2022 (see news item of 09/15/23), it can now be seen at the recently opened Galerie Moretti in Paris (see news item of 09/15/23). On the occasion of its new exhibition, the gallery dares to offer a summary of art history in a dozen paintings: "Five centuries of Italian painting" contemplates us in the Place du Louvre and takes us from the 14th to the 19th century, from Saint Catherine of Alexandria carrying the wheel of her martyrdom, painted by Barnaba da Modena, to Antonio Mancini’s Self-portrait of Madness. The few works gathered here are not by the greatest names, but they do help to advance our knowledge of lesser-known artists.

1. Antonio Gherardi (1638-1702)
Saint Charles Borromeo Giving Communion to the Pestiferous
Oil on canvas - 135 x 98 cm
Paris, Moretti Fine Art
Photo: Moretti

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In addition to Gehrardi’s Baroque example, the 17th century is also illustrated by an interpretation of Caravaggism, with a Madeleine recently attributed to Angelo Caroselli (ill. 2). Displayed opposite a Virgin with Child by the same painter, in a more classical style, it demonstrates the eclecticism of his style, the evolution of which is not obvious. In any case, he used the figure of the Magdalene on several occasions. In particular, one can be seen at the San Diego Museum and another at the Musée Calvet, in a posture quite comparable to this one, long considered a representation of a man. "Irreverent painter [1]", self-taught, lover of witchcraft subjects, he was a painter, restorer and copyist, taking over the works of Raphael, Titian or Caravaggio at the request of commissioners, sometimes also a forger. He entered the Academy of Saint Luc in Rome around 1604, traveling to…