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Bartolomeo Bimbi

Bouquet of Carnations, Roses and Hyacinths in an embossed Metal Vase

Origin	Italy
Period	Pre 18th Century
Materials	Oil on canvas
Condition	Excellent.
Description	Size: Framed: 38 ½” high x 33 ½” wide (97.6 x 85 cm.) Unframed: 28 ½” high x 23 ½” wide (72.5 x 59.6 cm.) Bimbi began his career as a painter of historical subjects and achieved fame as a painter of still lifes where he showed great facility depicting flowers and fruits. His paintings have some influences from Northern works, particularly Holland, with their brilliance and vivacity. Bimbi was commissioned to reproduce rare varieties of animal and vegetal subjects along with a fellow artist, Giovanni Martinelli (Florence 1610 – 1659) for the Villa of Topaia of Castello for Cosimo II de’Medici and continued under Gian Gastone de’Medici. In the mid-1680’s Bimbi had been painting for Ferdinando de’Medici, who introduced him to his father, the Grand Duca Cosimo III. He was to become one of Cosimo III’s favorite artists. Bimbi’s exuberant late Baroque works were much appreciated and he was known to have derived pleasure from them along with his patrons praise. Bimbi’s floral bouquets differ from those of Andrea Scacciati, (Florence 1642 – 1704) for his intense chiaroscuro and his limpid whites, which show a continuation with the works of his former teacher, Lorenzo Lippi, (Florence 1606 – 1665) the painter and poet and of the works of Angelo Gori, also known for his fruit and flowers. Bimbi’s compositions are complex and elegant with many paintings depicting metal vases, containing his varied floral bouquets. He favored roses, wild anemones, tulips, hyacinths, orange blossoms and carnations. The Uffizi in Florence has two of his paintings, # 604-608. There are also two at the Accademia del Georgofilli (Castello inv. 596 and 600). Comparative Literature: Catalogue of the paintings of Villa Medici Poggio a Caiano – Museo della Natura Morta Cat. Dei dipinti - a cura di Stefano Casciu and La Natura Morta in Italia – Mina Gregori Electa 2nd volume # 619, a pair of floral bouquets. A painting of a bouquet was sold in Paris, June 22, 1927 for 16,000 French francs. Bimbi’s self-portrait is in the Museo Nazionale in Florence. An expertise by Prof. Mina Gregori accompanies this painting: This vase of flowers is clearly in the Florentine style. As is well noted, two distinguished artists worked in Florence during the late 17th and early 19th centuries for the ruling Court, Andrea Scacciati and Bartolomeo Bimbi. There are various aspects of this painting which lead me to identify the work as that of Bartolomeo Bimbi and workshop. The convincing elements are: the decorated vase and the variety of flowers depicted, flowers which can also be found in other works by Bimbi. In particular, the “multi-petal” rose with the pinkish hue which grows more intense near the center of the flower. Other flowers which are typical of Bimbi’s work are the “coronary” anemones and the scarlet caryophyllaceae** both present in this painting. The arrangement of flowers in this work are sparse not as full as can be seen in other works by the artist where his arrangements are more compact and varied; therefore, I believe this work was carried out by the artist with the collaboration of his workshop.
Styles / Movements	Old Master
Book References	Comparative Literature: Catalogue of the paintings of Villa Medici Poggio a Caiano – Museo della Natura Morta Cat. Dei dipinti - a cura di Stefano Casciu and La Natura Morta in Italia – Mina Gregori Electa 2nd volume # 619, a pair of floral bouquets.
Dealer Reference Number	PNG 17-17
Incollect Reference Number	180096