The Sorceress Circe transforming Ulysses's companions into Animals

(Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, called Il Grechetto)

The subject of the Sorceress Circe was used on several occasions by Castiglione, because it lent itself to his skill in portraying compositions with animals, which was his preferred subject matter ever since in his youth he came under the influence of Sinibaldo Scorza. An engraving derived from this composition, by Castiglione is described by Bartsch (XXI, no. 22)

1.10 x 1.60 metres

Oil on board

Spinola Collection, Genoa
Spinola Collection, Monte Carlo

De Logu, ‘Pittori Genovesi del 600’, 1937
Blunt, ‘Castiglione Drawings at Windsor’, 1954, p.36
A Percy, Castiglione Exhibition, Museum of Art Philadelphia, 1971
Finarte Sale of Old Master Paintings, 9th November 1971, Milan, no. 54
‘Mostra dei Disegni Italiani della Collezione Santarelli’, Olschky, Florence, 1977, no. 66, p.74, and fig. 89

Acquired by private collector in New York through the Matthiesen Gallery

Baroque - 1600-1720

Mythological

Italian - Genoese

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