CARLO EMANUELE LANFRANCHI (attr. to) (Brussels or Brabant, 1642 - Turin, 1706) Saint Margaret Inscribed on the verso of the frame: C. E. Lanfranchi Oil on canvas, 76X100 cm Provenance: Turin, private collection The inscription on the verso of the frame allowed Arabella Cifani to trace the painting back to the scarce catalogue of Carlo Emanuele Lanfranchi, an artist of Flemish origin but active in Turin during the second half of the 17th century. Thus, the canvas must be considered an important discovery, we could say fundamental to embarking on the critical reconstruction of his production which, to date, counts very few works, but 'of a surprisingly high quality' (cf. Monetti-Cifani 1990, p. 113). The studies conducted by Franco Monetti and Arabella Cifani have also clarified that the painter had nothing to do with the genus of Lanfranchi architects and engineers and that he was Prior of the Accademia di San Luca in 1687, collaborator for the figure pieces in the works of Giovanni Battista Abret (Antwerp, 1640 - Turin, 1709) and conservator of the Valentino. As we know, his best known creation is the altarpiece depicting the Assumption with Saints Philip, James, Bartholomew and Augustine signed and dated: 'C. Lanfranchi fecit 1668/fiamengo' and placed in the choir of Turin's Church of St. Augustine, the analysis of which reveals a clear Vandican ancestry. A similar Nordic tenor is also found in the St. Margaret under examination, the results of which, however, reflect a more Rubensian manner and affinity with the creations of the Flemish-Genovese Vincent Malò (Cambrai, c. 1595/1600 - Rome, 1649), due to the peculiar chromatic interpretation and the liveliness of the drafts, suggesting, therefore, a probable youthful realisation. The naturalism of the figures, in fact, evokes Emilian, Roman and Ligustian examples that our artist may have learnt during a plausible educational trip to our peninsula, which were in turn modulated in a Baroque and Classicist tenor during his maturity. We thank Arabella Cifani for the attribution. Reference bibliography: F. Monetti, A. Cifani, Arte e artisti nel Piemonte del '600: nuove scoperte e nuovi orientamenti, Cavallermaggiore 1990