Francesco Simonini (1686-1766)

Parma native Francesco Simonini learned the craft of painting in the studio of Francesco Monti, the famous painter of battle scenes. During his stay in Florence, he was deeply impressed by the work of Jacques Courtois. He also visited Rome and Bologna before settling in Venice, where he worked for Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg, mercenary commander of the Venetian forces in the struggle against the Turks, and painted a great number of battle scenes involving cavalry. He developed a distinctive style of painting, characterized by rapid brush strokes and the use of lighter colors. The battle shown on the painting takes place in open country outside the city, barely visible through the dust kicked up by the ferocious fight. It is a very characteristic and important work of the artist. (expert opinion: Prof. Giancarlo Sestieri, Roma)