Bartolomeo BIMBI (Florentine painter, born in Settignano, 16 - Lot 378

Bartolomeo BIMBI (Florentine painter, born in Settignano, 1648–1730). Still life with flowers in an Iznik vase, figs on a majolica dish, quinces, melons, and fruit in a landscape. Oil on canvas, signed “Il Bimbi” lower left. H_97.7 cm W_145.8 cm In a superb, richly carved wooden frame decorated with acanthus leaves, foliage adorned with fruit, and split pomegranates. Provenance: - Label on the reverse indicating the Niccolini di Camugliano Collection, Florence (according to an inscription on a label on the reverse of the stretcher). - Label on the reverse indicating the Count Cesnola Collection, Florence. - Christie’s, London auction, April 6, 1984, lot no. 43 (part of a series of four paintings). Bibliography: - S. Meloni Trkulja, L. Tongiorgi, Bartolomeo Bimbi. A Painter of Plants and Animals at the Court of the Medici, Florence, 1998, pp. 138–139, no. 70, reproduced in color on p. 138. - F. Porzio, F. Zeri, *La natura morta in Italia*, Milan, 1989, vol. II, pp. 592 and 594, no. 706, reproduced in color on p. 595.