Capriccio with ruins and figures, oil painting on canvas, early 18th century

Grand landscape with ruins from 1700. Capriccio with ruins and figures, oil painting on canvas, early 18th century, good condition.

Capriccio is a term coined at the end of the Renaissance and has several meanings with a common point. Capriccio was a movement of the soul, more precisely an excitation of the imagination, which gave rise to various visualizations. From an artistic perspective, there is no doubt that the Capriccio genre developed in the Eternal City in the first decades of the 17th century and was inspired by the ruins of the classical era. 

This canvas is essentially ruined, as the landscape plays a secondary role in the composition. The unidentified ruins here have a suggestive template, meaning they utilize their emotional potential to outline imaginary landscapes. The scene is symbolically observed by a Roman knight, with two beggars sitting on the rubble, as if to emphasize the fall of the classical world. 

The painting has been relined and restored into a new frame; it has undergone conservation and has several added paint details. The frame is French, from the 19th century. 

The artwork is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity for circulation.

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Empire-style furniture and accessories date from the late 18th to early 19th century. Everything stems from Napoleon’s reign, which imposed a strong resemblance and references to Roman and Greek ornamentation.

Neoclassical furniture is associated with Louis XVI style, which also heavily references ancient architecture. Notable and noteworthy are antique products in Rococo and Louis XV styles. The next is Baroque, whose name derives from the Portuguese 'barocco'—meaning an irregularly developed pearl. These were highly decorative pieces meant to radiate splendor and play a significant role in luxury. Unique, selectively used materials were employed to further emphasize the grandeur of these items.

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