Baldassarre DE CARO (1689-c.1750) - attributed, Still Life with Birds and Hunting Dog

oil, duplicated canvas; 100.5 x 166.5 cm;
Inscribed on the original back covered with duplicated canvas (the contents of the inscription known through photographs documenting the conservation): Batdar de Caro Ordte del S. / Pnpe d (second letter covered by vertical stretcher bar) Scilla / no. 110.

Neapolitan painter, pupil of Andrea Belvedere (1642-1732). Initially, like his master, he was fond of still life subjects - mainly flowers. Over time, however, he found his own theme in painting, which was hunting still lifes depicting the prey of the hunt, and often introduced a "portrait" of a hunting dog into his compositions. The artist himself, as well as the themes he explored, referring to Flemish painting, proved to be exceptionally appreciated by the mighty of the time. The canvas on display probably came from the collection of the Duke of Scilla, as may be indicated by the inscription on the back of the original sub-painting.