Bamboccianti painter; Italy, XVII century.

Bamboccianti painter; Italy, 17th century.
"View of St. Gregory the Great in Rome."
Oil on oak panel.
Measurements: 21.5 x 32 cm; 34 x 44 cm (frame).
Frontal view of the church of San Gregorio Magno in Rome. The author has conceived this work is following the costumbrista models. In the seventeenth century, the painting of urban views in Italy acquired great relevance, reflecting the interest in the realistic representation of cities and their architectural landscapes. These works not only documented the physiognomy of the cities, but also exalted their splendor, attracting travelers and collectors within the Grand Tour boom. Within this context, the group of painters known as the Bamboccianti, composed mostly of artists of Nordic origin who settled in Rome, provided a different vision of urban life. In contrast to idealized or solemn views of the city, the Bamboccianti introduced costumbrista scenes with a more everyday and often humorous perspective, depicting markets, taverns and popular streets with a detailed and lively approach. Although their style differed from the more academic Vedutismo, their work contributed to the evolution of urban painting by capturing city life with a sensibility close to the social reality of the time.
The Bamboccianti were genre painters, active in Rome from c. 1625 to the end of the 17th century. Most were Dutch and Flemish artists who brought to Italy the tradition of depicting subjects of a costumbrist character, typical of 16th century Dutch art. They generally created small cabinet works, or engravings of the daily life of the lower classes in Rome and its countryside. Despite their humble subject matter, the works found appreciation among elite collectors.