Artwork
Zwei Genien mit Bruthenne
Zwei Genien mit Bruthenne is an unspecified painting by the Barbizon school artist Antonio Bellucci. It dates from 1696 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Antonio Bellucci’s 1696 canvas titled Zwei Genien mit Bruthenne presents a modestly sized oval composition that brings together two cherubic figures and a hen. The work belongs to the late Baroque‑Rococo transition and is part of the Alte Pinakothek’s collection in Munich, offering a glimpse of the artist’s decorative sensibility during his northern European period.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre of the scene stand two putti, rendered in a classical pose; one cherub clutches a small bird while the other watches attentively. The accompanying hen, rendered with a slightly somber expression, creates a contrast that has been interpreted as an allegorical pairing of innocence (the putti) with earthly or maternal themes suggested by the hen.
Technique & Style
Bellucci employs a restrained palette of muted tones, allowing the delicate modeling of flesh and feather to emerge against a soft background. The figures are articulated with the graceful lines characteristic of the Italianate grand manner, while the oval frame and gentle chiaroscuro hint at the decorative elegance that would later define Rococo aesthetics.
History & Provenance
Born in Venice in 1654, Bellucci trained locally before embarking on a career that took him to the courts of northern Europe, where he executed numerous frescoes and easel works for aristocratic patrons. Zwei Genien mit Bruthenne entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings in the 19th century, reflecting the museum’s effort to acquire representative works of Italian Baroque painters active abroad.
Artist & collection
Artist
Antonio Bellucci (19 February 1654 – 29 August 1726) was an Italian soldier who became a painter of the Rococo period and is best known for his work in England, Germany, and Austria.
