Lot 244: Orazio de Ferrari Voltri 1606-1657 Genova , Moses giving water to the Israelites in the desert

oil on canvas, unframed

measurements note 68 7/8 by 88 5/8 in.; 175.5 by 225 cm.

Purchased in Europe in the 1950s by Mr. Duarte, Mexico;
Thence by descent.

PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION, MEXICO
Orazio de' Ferrari was a prolific artist and this very impressive painting is a characteristic example of his work. Typically, as in the present work, he places his figures in the foreground of the picture plane, and illuminates it against a dark background. The strong sense of drama and the depiction of muscular, almost Rubensian figures, reveal Assereto's influence. We are grateful to Dr. Mary Newcome Schleier for making the attribution to Orazio de' Ferrari, based on photographs. She suggests a possible dating of the painting to the late 1640's, comparing it to the St. James consecrating St. Peter Martyr in the Oratory of San Giacomo della Marina, Genoa, which is signed and dated 1647, as well as one of Orazio's most famous works, the Last Supperυ in the church of San Siro, Genova.υ1 1 See P. Donati, Orazio de' Ferrari, Genoa 1997, cats. no. 80-81, illus.