Moretti Fine Art is delighted to announce the forthcoming exhibition, “Giulio Cesare Procaccini. Doria’s Judith and Genoa.” The exhibition will be on display at the London Gallery at 13 Duke Street, St James’s, 10 November – 28 November 2023.
Born in Bologna in 1574, Giulio Cesare Procaccini is one of the principal luminaries of the Lombard school of painting in the early 17th century. His significance in the Genoese Baroque painting tradition has been pivotal in shaping the canon of the school, alongside with the influence that Rubens and Van Dyck also had on the territory. However, Procaccini’s artistic endeavours were not limited to Genoa, thus they spanned across Italian cities like Turin, Piacenza, Parma, Cremona, and Modena, contributing to his versatility, thereby confirming his eminent standing within the Lombard school.
The exhibition’s central narrative features an exceptional painting by Giulio Cesare Procaccini, depicting the arresting subject of Judith with the Head of Holofernes. By unveiling a sophisticated amalgamation of styles, Procaccini harmoniously blends elements of Milanese and Genoese traditions with a distinct Caravaggesque influence, which culminates in his personal unique form of “Baroque Caravaggism.”
Commissioned by Giovan Carlo Doria, the patron entrusted the painter with the daunting task of bringing an exceptional yet sublime intense narrative to life on canvas. Thus, the figures, delineated by confident brushstrokes, are imbued with vibrant colours that spring forth from an intricate backdrop, enveloping them in a space that surpasses the confines of the tangible. Far from being a mere tableau of Biblical narrative, the painting becomes a conduit for lived experience: Procaccini, by turning Judith’s gaze towards us, transforms the scene from one simply recounted to one vividly experienced.
Moretti Fine Art
13 Duke Street, St. James's
London SW1Y 6DB
10 – 28 November 2023
Opening hours
Monday - Friday
10 am - 6pm
