MAGINI, Carlo

This painting shows a wicker basket with tea towel, candle, ceramic cup, flask, fruit and peas. It exemplifies the simplicity and tactile naturalism that mark the expressive language of the Marchigian artist Magini, whose precedents can be identified in the sober compositions of the Master of Rodolfo Lodi and Cristoforo Munari. As can often be noted in his autograph works, here Magini used various elements typical of his iconographic repertory, taking them from the prepared cartoons he assembled differently for each work to create compositions varying in complexity.

This still-life depicts a candle, bottle, ceramic plate, veal loin, fennel and orange. It exemplifies the simplicity and tactile naturalism that mark the expressive language of the Marchigian artist Magini, whose precedents can be identified in the sober compositions of the Master of Rodolfo Lodi and Cristoforo Munari. As can often be noted in his autograph works, here Magini used various elements typical of his iconographic repertory, taking them from the prepared cartoons he assembled differently for each work to create compositions varying in complexity.

Magini was documented as a figure painter - of portraits in particular - but he also developed his own speciality, in the form of table settings with different, apparently unrelated, elements in juxtaposition, with a focus on light and visibility. The various objects and food items are displayed in two distinct sections, with the largest ones at the back, while smaller elements are positioned at the forefront, and are therefore more easily accessible to the eye. This arrangement stands out clearly from a dark brown wall, which sets off the pale brown tabletop, on which the light originating from the left of the painting is focused.