A wise and fascinating painting of the early nineteenth century referable to the sphere of Bartolomeo or Bonaventura Bettera (painters from Bergamo who lived between the mid-seventeenth and mid-eighteenth centuries) in which we find scientific instruments such as the astrolabe (it is an ancient portable astronomical instrument that was used by sailors to measure the height of the stars on the horizon, then replaced with the sextant), a small lantern, parchments, ancient books, to remind us of the "Vanitas" where each object had a particular meaning in the passage of time.
A kaleidoscope of symbols contained in this well-made atelier work from a pictorial point of view where there is a strong reference to the epic of the seventeenth-eighteenth century still life.
Bartolomeo or Bonaventura Bettera was born in Bergamo on 28 August 1639; the family, probably of builders, came from Gandino in Val Seriana, where a Giovanni Maria Bettera erected the imposing basilica in 1630-40. He was an imitator of Evaristo Baschenis' art in the field of still life compositions, including various objects, but, in particular, musical instruments. Little about him broke away from the compositional character of the masters, so much so that he was often confused with him in the attribution of unsigned works. Several of his paintings, on the other hand, are signed with the two initials divided by a cross: in the paintings in the Camozzi castle in Costa di Mezzate, at the Carrara Academy, in the Collegio di S. Alessandro in Bergamo, in the Cicogna house in Milan. Even if the address is similar to that of Baschenis, the color is more opaque, the groupings of objects less cheerful, the fabrics and curtains of less executive subtlety. Although residing in Bergamo, the B. went to Rome for some time (as evidenced by the signature in a painting in Brugherio, Milan) and went to Milan in 1687, where he probably remained until the end of his life at the end of the century. . XVII. Two other works by him can be found in Bissone (Canton Ticino) and three at the Hofburg in Vienna.
Probably the son of Bettera. was Bonaventura: only one painting of him is known in Bergamo, which bears the signature: "Bonaventura Bettera 1718", always with musical instruments, scientific objects, books, parchments: other works can be attributed to him, including two other canvases in Bergamo.
Oil painting on canvas.
Lombardy - early nineteenth century
Measurements: Height cm. 49.5 Width cm. 69
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