Alessandro Salucci (1590-1655) and Jan Miel (1599-1663), Architecture , c. 1635-1640, oil on canvas, 98.5x132.5 cm Provenance: Jean-Robert Tronchin-Boissier, Procureur général in 1777, by succession to François Tronchin, the Bessinge cabinet, Acquired in 1938 by Xavier Givaudan (1867-1966), then by succession to the current owner Note: This painting was formerly attributed to Jan Miel. The figures and animals do indeed appear to have been painted by this artist, but the architecture itself is typically Italian. Andrea Busiri Vici attributes this fanciful interpretation of Constantine's Arch to Alessandro Salucci, stating that it is "almost of his spirit and painting, even if the portico on the left and the sobriety of the iconic architecture on the right may bring to mind Coccorante and Viviano Codazzi". According to this art historian, this work by Salucci reveals the Neapolitan influence of his time, and must have been executed around 1635, but not after 1640. Bibliography: Renée Loche, Catalogue des collections de François Tronchin , in: Genava, T. XXII, Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, Genève, 1974, p. 199, no. 3, ill. b/w p. 201 Exhibition: Musée Rath, De Genève à l'Ermitage, les collections François Tronchin, Geneva, 1974 Alessandro Salucci (1590-1655) e Jan Miel (1599-1663), "Architettura", circa 1635-1640, olio su tela, 98,5x132,5 cm Provenance: Jean-Robert Tronchin-Boissier, Procuratore generala nel 1777, per successione a François Tronchin, gabinetto dei dipinti a Bessinge, acquistato nel 1938 da Xavier Givaudan (1867-1966), poi per successione all'attuale proprietario. Note: this diptych was previously attributed to Jan Miel. The figures and animals seem to have been indeed dipped by this artist, but the architecture is typically Italian. Andrea Busiri Vici attributes this fantastic interpretation of the Arco di Costantino to Alessandro Salucci, asserting that it is "almost of his own spirit and painting, even though the portico on the left and the sobriety of the iconic architecture on the right can make you think of Coccorante and Viviano Codazzi". Secondo questo storico dell'arte, quest'opera di Salucci rivela l'influenza napoletana del suo tempo, deve essere stata eseguita intorno al 1635, ma non dopo il 1640. Bibliography: Renée Loche, "Catalogue des collections de François Tronchin", in: Genava, T. XXII, Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, Genève, 1974, p. 199, no. 3, ill. b/n p. 201 Mostra: Musée Rath, De Genève à l'Ermitage, les collections François Tronchin, Ginevra, 1974 GIVAUDAN COLLECTION - TRONCHIN The brothers Xavier (1867-1966) and Léon (1875-1936) Givaudan enjoyed success thanks to a flourishing industry producing synthetic perfumes, chemicals and soaps. Xavier Givaudan moved to Geneva in 1917, where he bought a town house on the corner of rue de la Cloche and quai du Mont-Blanc. In 1938, after renting it out for several years, he acquired the Domaine de Bessinge, a 50-hectare property on the site of the present-day Cologny golf course. Shortly after his death, the heirs sold the estate, while preserving a large part of the collections, including the paintings included in this catalogue. Lots 2015, 2016 and 2018 to 2022 come from this estate and appear on the market for the first time. Bessinge was owned by the famous Tronchin family, who played a key role in Geneva for almost three centuries. The estate was purchased in 1764 by Jacob Tronchin (1717-1801) and the residence built in 1840 by Henri Tronchin (1794-1865). It remained in the family's hands until it was acquired by Xavier Givaudan. Doctor Théodore Tronchin (1709-1781) was renowned throughout Europe for his medical skills and for inoculating the first children of crowned heads with vaccines (lots 2015 and 2022). The art collection really took off with Councillor François Tronchin (1704-1798). Tronchin was an eminent member of the Geneva patriarchate, a member of the Conseil des Deux-Cents and the Petit Conseil de Genève, a writer and friend of Diderot, and brought Voltaire to Geneva. A renowned politician and man of letters, he is now famous as a major art collector and painting expert, renowned from Paris to St Petersburg, as evidenced by the sale of his first collection to Empress Catherine II of Russia in 1770. On his death, Jean-Armand Tronchin, his nephew, had the artist Prud'hon and the first director of the Louvre, Vivant-Denon, choose thirty paintings to form the core of the Tronchin family art collection. Piguet has already auctioned paintings and objects from this property in March, September and December 2017. Today, we have the pleasure and honour of auctioning a remarkable group of works from this collection, including an impressive view of Geneva (lot 2018), showing the city and its ramparts at the time of the Escalade...