Tommaso Campana
active 1620 - 1640
An Aviary of Exotic Birds including Pheasants, a Partridge, Magpie, Red Cardinal, Wood Pecker, and various Finches
Medium:
Oil on Canvas
Category:
Dimensions:
73.7(h) x 91.5(w) cms
Framed Dimensions:
84.8(h) x 102.5(w) cms
Exhibitions:
Essay:
Tommaso Campana was an Italian painter active during the Baroque period, mainly in his native Bologna. He was originally a pupil of the Accademia founded by the Carracci family. It has been noted that he was at this time also influenced by Paolo Antonio Barbieri (1603 - 1649), brother of Guercino, who was adept at still life compositions of flowers, fish, and game. After the death of Ludovico Carracci he studied under Guido Reni, the leader of the Bolognese school, and worked in the great master's prolific studio.
Campana executed religious paintings, notably two scenes from the life of St. Cecelia in the monastery of San Michele in Bosco which was at that time flourishing under the order of Monte Oliveto as a centre of learning and music. Campana also created animal portraits notably birds, a fine example of which is to be found in the Fesch Museum in Ajaccio, Corsica.
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The birds on the rail from left to right are: a hawfinch, kingfisher, redleg partridge, albino pheasant, robin, and a red cardinal.
Clockwise starting from the top left we see: a robin, bullfinch, greater spotted woodpecker, a pair of wrens, magpie, grey partridge, great tit, tree sparrow, pheasant, and a thrush.
