Alessandro Turchi, called l’Orbetto
(Verona 1578–1649 Rome)
The Judgement of Paris,
oil on copper, 51.5 x 71.5 cm, framed
Provenance:
Private collection, France

Literature:
D. Scaglietti Kelescian, Alessandro Turchi detto l’Orbetto. 1578–1649, Verona 2019, p. 170–171, mentioned under no. 95

The present composition relates to Alessandro Turchi’s Judgement of Paris in Kassel, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (inv. no. GK 542).

Mina Gregori considered the present painting to be a fully autograph version by Turchi after examination of the original (written communication in copy, 12 March 2003), however, it has also been suggested that the present painting may contain some participation by Turchi’s workshop. Nevertheless, fully autograph replicas by Turchi are known including The Communion of the Magdalene, sold by these rooms (lot 100, 18 October 2016) and another version sold at Sotheby’s London (lot 18, 11 December 2005).

Alessandro Turchi was born in Verona in 1578 and settled in Rome in 1614. His early works echo Veronese and Lombard Mannerist traditions and his mature style shows the influence of the Bolognese school. He was elected in 1637 as "Principe" of Rome’s Accademia di San Luca and in 1638 he entered in the Congregazione dei Virtuosi del Pantheon, indicating his prominent position in Roman artistic circles. He had several important clients, such as Cardinal Mazarin, Cardinal Richelieu and the Duke of Bavaria, Maximilian I.