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95,5 x 114,5 cm
Oil on canvas


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Expertise

The Persian Sibyl

The subject
The Sibyl is a mythological figure present both in Greek and Roman culture. The classical tradition tells the story of female virgins with prophetic talents due to their intercession with a divinity (usually Apollo); they were thus able to provide answers or make predictions, and were therefore revered. The first historical reference to the Sibyls can be found in the work of Plato, although he speaks of just a single Sibyl. Varrone was the first to provide a genuine list of these mythological figures among which the Persian Sibyl, the subject of this portrait, one of the oldest. Classical tradition divides them into groups based upon their geographical origin: Eastern, Greek-Ionian and Greek-Italian; the Persian Sibyl belonged to the Eastern group.


The painting
Andrea Emiliani attributed the work to Benedetto Gennari (written communication on 16 July 2009). It appears that the customer, a certain Rondinelli, sold this painting to the illustrious Pio di Savoia family, not before, however, making a copy to keep for himself. Subsequently, the Pio di Savoia family gave their entire collection, including this piece, to Pope Benedict XIV Lambertini, which then became a part of the collection at the Pinacoteca Capitolina. Gennari, an attentive student of Guercino, managed to soften the divine nature of the Sibyl by capturing her in a moment of distraction. In fact, intent on her writing, she is interrupted by the viewer to whom she seems to turn her melancholic gaze. The title of the piece was indicated by the artist, on the side of the book placed on the table.