Anthony van Dyck, 'Portrait of G.B. Cattaneo Della Volta (?)', 1621-5
About the work
Overview
Anthony van Dyck spent much of his twenties (1621–27) in Italy and in particular Genoa, where wealthy aristocratic merchants were keen to have themselves portrayed in a flattering and engaging manner. Many were full-length portraits of graceful figures who were clearly aware of their status. This is a more modest, half-length portrait, but the sitter still looks at us with a confident, unwavering gaze.
An inscription on the letter held by the sitter in his right hand – now barely visible – reads: ‘Gio… Batt…Cattane’. It is the only clue to the identity of the depicted man. Recent genealogical research identifies him as Giovanni Battista Cattaneo Della Volta (1578–1640) of Genoa.
This painting and several other portraits by Van Dyck were in the collection of the prominent Genoese Cattaneo family until the early twentieth century, including Portrait of a Woman (also in the National Gallery’s collection). The painting’s condition is compromised, but it displays stylistic qualities that seem to betray the hand of Van Dyck himself.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- Portrait of a Man, possibly Giovanni Battista Cattaneo Della Volta
- Artist
- Anthony van Dyck
- Artist dates
- 1599 - 1641
- Date made
- 1621-5
- Medium and support
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 73.5 × 60.5 cm
- Acquisition credit
- Bought, 1907
- Inventory number
- NG2127
- Location
- Not on display
- Collection
- Main Collection
- Frame
- 17th-century Italian Frame
Provenance
Coll. the Cattaneo family of Genoa; perhaps noted by Wilson in the palace of Nicola Cataneo (sic), Genoa, 1828; noted by Mündler in the Casa Casaretto, 1857; sold by the heirs of Marchese Giuseppe della Volta to Antonio Monti and Conte Trotti, 1907; purchased by Messrs. Colnaghi, 1907; from whom bought with the aid of a contribution from Messrs. Colnaghi, 1907.
Additional information
Text extracted from the ‘Provenance’ section of the catalogue entry in Gregory Martin, ‘National Gallery Catalogues: The Flemish School: circa 1600–circa 1900’, London 1986; for further information, see the full catalogue entry.
Exhibition history
-
2012Seduced by Art: Photography Past and PresentThe National Gallery (London)31 October 2012 - 20 January 2013CaixaForum Barcelona21 February 2013 - 19 May 2013CaixaForum Madrid19 June 2013 - 15 September 2013
Bibliography
-
1843A. Cunningham, The Life of Sir David Wilkie: With His Journals, Tours, and Critical Remarks on Works of Art; and a Selection from His Correspondence, vol. 2, London 1843
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1897M. Mennotti, 'Van Dyck a Genova', Archivio storico dell'arte, 1897, pp. 298-300
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1900L.H. Cust, Anthony van Dyck: An Historical Study of his Life and Works, London 1900
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1907L.H. Cust, 'The New van Dyck in the National Gallery', The Burlington Magazine, XI, 1907, pp. 325-6
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1907E. Modigliani, 'The Cattaneo van Dycks and the Italian Law. A Reply', The Connoisseur, XVIII, 1907
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1907W. Roberts, 'The Cattaneo van Dycks', The Connoisseur, XVIII, 1907
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1909E. Schaeffer, Van Dyck: Des Meisters Gemälde, Stuttgart 1909
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1909'Unanswered Questions about the Norfolk Holbein', The Burlington Magazine, XV/75, 1909, pp. 134-7
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1928L. Wittler, 'The Cattaneo-Lomellini van Dycks', International Studio, XC, 1928, pp. 38-9
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1931G. Glück, Van Dyck, des Meisters Gemälde, Stuttgart 1931
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1933G. Glück, Rubens, Van Dyck und ihr Kreis, Vienna 1933
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1950L. van Puyvelde, Van Dyck, Brussels 1950
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1970G. Martin, The Flemish School, circa 1600-circa 1900, London 1970
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1973M. Jaffé, [Review] 'National Gallery Catalogues: The Flemish School ca. 1600-ca. 1900 by Gregory Martin; Flemish Paintings and Drawings at 56 Princes Gate London, Addenda by Antoine Seilern', Art Bulletin, vol. 55, no. 3 (Sep.), 1973, pp. 462-4
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1985C.T. Dowd, 'The Travel Diary of Otto Mündler', The Walpole Society, LI, 1985
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1986Martin, Gregory, National Gallery Catalogues: The Flemish School, circa 1600 - circa 1900, London 1986
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1988E. Larsen, The Paintings of Anthony van Dyck, Freren 1988
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1994P. Boccardo, 'Ritratti di Genovesi di Rubens e di van Dyck: Contesto ed identificazioni', Studies in the History of Art, XLVI, 1994, pp. 77-102
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2001
C. Baker and T. Henry, The National Gallery: Complete Illustrated Catalogue, London 2001
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2001F. Gennari Santori, '"Questo è il paese dei miliardi!" La vendita dei Van Dyck Cattaneo (1907-1909)', Ricerche di storia dell'arte, LXXIII, 2001, pp. 31-9
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2004H. Vey et al., Van Dyck: A Complete Catalogue of the Paintings, New Haven 2004
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2011S. Avery-Quash, 'The Travel Notebooks of Sir Charles Eastlake: Volume I', The Walpole Society, LXXIII, 2011, pp. i-xx, 1-49, 51-79, 81-674
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2012H. Kingsley, Seduced by Art: Photography Past and Present (exh. cat., The National Gallery, London; CaixaForum, Barcelona; CaixaForum, Madrid), London 2012
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2017G. Montanari and P. Boccardo, 'I Cattaneo della Volta. Ritratti di una famiglia', in E. Chiavari Cattaneo Della Volta and A. Lercari (eds), I Cattaneo Della Volta: Vicende e protagonisti di una millenaria famiglia Genovese, Genoa 2017, pp. 460-91
About this record
If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.
Images
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