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Artwork

Study for "The Apotheosis of Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina, King and Queen of Naples" (for the Palazzo dei Regi Studi, Naples)

Pietro Bardellino , 1791

Study for "The Apotheosis of Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina, King and Queen of Naples" (for the Palazzo dei Regi Studi, Naples), by Pietro Bardellino, oil, 1791
Study for "The Apotheosis of Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina, King and Queen of Naples" (for the Palazzo dei Regi Studi, Naples), by Pietro Bardellino, oil, 1791

Study for "The Apotheosis of Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina, King and Queen of Naples" (for the Palazzo dei Regi Studi, Naples) is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Pietro Bardellino. It dates from 1791 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Technique & Style

Created in 1781, this work is an oil painting executed on canvas. The piece measures 172.4 cm in height and 122.5 cm in width. As a study for a larger commission intended for the Palazzo dei Regi Studi in Naples, the work functions as a preparatory oil sketch. The composition depicts a floral motif, which serves as a central formal element within the study's design.

History & Provenance

Pietro Bardellino executed this oil study in 1781 as a preparatory work for a larger commission intended for the Palazzo dei Regi Studi in Naples.

Pietro Bardellino executed this oil study in 1781 as a preparatory work for a larger commission intended for the Palazzo dei Regi Studi in Naples. The piece was designed to serve as a model for an apotheosis depicting Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina, the King and Queen of Naples. Created in Italy, the painting measures 172.4 cm in height and 122.5 cm in width.

The work eventually entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is held as part of their permanent holdings.

The work is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, located in Cleveland. It carries the accession number 1968.208. The provided sources do not contain information regarding any specific exhibitions in which this study has been displayed.

Legacy

The 1781 oil study by Pietro Bardellino, created as a preparatory design for the frescoed apotheosis of Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina in the Palazzo dei Regi Studi, Naples, entered the Cleveland Museum of Art collection, where it is catalogued with dimensions 172.4 × 122.5 cm. Its presence in a major public collection underscores scholarly recognition of Bardellino’s contribution to 18th‑century Neapolitan decorative painting. The work is frequently cited in studies of Italian canvas sketches from the period, reflecting its role in understanding the artistic processes behind large‑scale royal commissions. As part of the museum’s European paintings series, the study contributes to ongoing research into the evolution of decorative arts in pre‑Napoleonic Italy.

Overview

Pietro Bardellino's 1791 oil painting, Study for "The Apotheosis of Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina, King and Queen of Naples", serves as a preparatory work for a larger commission. This painting, executed in oil, captures a dynamic celestial scene. It is currently part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art, offering insight into the artist's process for a significant Neapolitan project.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a grand assembly of figures ascending amidst a sky filled with clouds, suggesting a divine elevation or "apotheosis." Crowned individuals and robed figures are presented in various gestures, some holding symbolic objects like scrolls, while a horse and rider streak across the upper register. The overall imagery conveys a celebratory tribute to royalty, specifically Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina, the King and Queen of Naples.

Study for "The Apotheosis of Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina, King and Queen of Naples" (for the Palazzo dei Regi Studi, Naples)
Study for "The Apotheosis of Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina, King and Queen of Naples" (for the Palazzo dei Regi Studi, Naples), Pietro Bardellino

Artist & collection

Portrait of Pietro Bardellino

Artist

Pietro Bardellino

Pietro Bardellino was an Italian painter in the Rococo style.

VISUALLY SIMILAR

Similarity 98 percent

SAME SUBJECT

Similarity 80 percent
This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted Study for "The Apotheosis of Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina, King and Queen of Naples" (for the Palazzo dei Regi Studi, Naples)?

Study for "The Apotheosis of Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina, King and Queen of Naples" (for the Palazzo dei Regi Studi, Naples) was painted by Pietro Bardellino in 1781-01-01.

Where can I see Study for "The Apotheosis of Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina, King and Queen of Naples" (for the Palazzo dei Regi Studi, Naples)?

Study for "The Apotheosis of Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina, King and Queen of Naples" (for the Palazzo dei Regi Studi, Naples) is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Study for "The Apotheosis of Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina, King and Queen of Naples" (for the Palazzo dei Regi Studi, Naples)?

Study for "The Apotheosis of Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina, King and Queen of Naples" (for the Palazzo dei Regi Studi, Naples) is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of Study for "The Apotheosis of Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina, King and Queen of Naples" (for the Palazzo dei Regi Studi, Naples)?

Museum-quality prints of Study for "The Apotheosis of Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina, King and Queen of Naples" (for the Palazzo dei Regi Studi, Naples) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.