Lot 65: Giovan Battista Lama , Napoli c. 1673-1748 The Birth of the Virgin oil on canvas, unframed

oil on canvas, unframed

measurements note 46 by 53 in.; 116.7 by 134.6 cm.

Although early sources identify him as a pupil of Luca Giordano, Giovanni Battista Lama's greatest influence was the work of Paolo de' Matteis (his relative by marriage): "egli hà più della maniera di Paolo de Matteis, che di quella di Luca Giordano."υ1 The artist was successful and appeared to have spent his working life in his native city of Naples, where he held a "onorato luogo fra Virtuosi Pittori" and painted numerous canvases for churches and religious institutions there, as well as easel pictures for a private clientele. We are grateful to Dr. Nicola Spinosa for suggesting the attribution to Giovanni Battista Lama based on photographs. 1. "He had more of the manner of Paolo de Matteis, than that of Luca Giordano," (De Dominici, Vite de' Pittori..., 1742, vol. III, p. 451).
2. "an honoured place amongst the most talented painters" (De Dominici, op. cit., p. 545).