Italian painter. He painted altarpieces and cabinet paintings of biblical and mythological themes in a style that varies between the classicism of Maratti and the softer, sweeter manner of the Barocchetto. His portraits, both of noble Italian patrons and visiting Grand Tourists, are distinguished by their unusual informality and the sense of intimacy between artist and subject.
The story is taken from the Metamorphoses of the Roman poet Ovid. After Apollo had offended Cupid in his capacity as an archer, the god of love shot two separate arrows out of spite. One of these struck Apollo himself, who became inflamed with love for Daphne, the daughter of the river god Peneus. With the other, with opposing effect, he hit Daphne, who as a result fled Apollo’s advances.
There are other versions of this composition by Trevisani, the largest being in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.
This painting was a ‘presentation piece’ related to the altarpiece ordered by the Oratorians in Turin for their church dedicated to San Filippo Neri. The painting was perhaps sent as a gift from the artist to the architect Filippo Juvarra who was put in charge with redesigning the church in Turin, and recommended Trevisani for the decoration of the altar. The altarpiece is still in situ today.
Four versions of this subject by Trevisani are known.
This well-preserved work on copper was painted around the turn of the eighteenth century for Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni (1667-1740), whose protection the artist enjoyed. As with many of the paintings Trevisani executed for him, Ottoboni’s emblem, the double-headed eagle, is included; in this case on the vase of flowers centre left. This is one of two known versions of the composition by Trevisani, the other (also on copper and of similar dimensions) is in the Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence. Trevisani painted numerous pictures for the cardinal.
This painting is a modello (a study) for a painting now in the Palazzo Colonna in Rome, although the larger painting is vertical in contrast to the horizontal study.
