Bidspirit auction | Venetian Master, 18th Century

Venetian Master, 18th Century - Venetian Master, 18th Century - Alexander the Great Tended by his Physician, Philip. This evocative canvas is a fine example of the late Venetian Baroque or early Rococo period, showcasing the theatricality and atmospheric light characteristic of the school of Sebastiano Ricci or Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. The composition depicts Alexander the Great, identified by his plumed helmet and Roman-style cuirass, seated before a grand military tent. He is shown in a moment of repose or recovery, as a figure—likely his trusted physician, Philip of Acarnania—tends to him, while his Macedonian soldiers look on in the background. The artist demonstrates typical Venetian virtuosity in the handling of light and color, particularly in the shimmering metallic tones of the armor and the soft, luminous treatment of the draped tent. In the background, a fortified city with a prominent dome and crenelated towers rises against a pale, expansive sky, providing a sense of monumental scale to the narrative. Oil on canmvas 70 x 52 cm Dimensions 70 x 52 cm