FRANCESCO CASANOVA (London, 1732 - Vordeerbruhl, 1803) Gentleman on Horseback Oil on canvas, 100X76.5 cm Provenance: Milan, private collection The painting depicts a gentleman on horseback and the style and script place its execution around the second half of the 18th century, revealing without doubt the hand of Francesco Casanova. A talented battler active for the most prestigious European patrons, the painter displays an elegant pictorial drafting, characterised by intense, precious colours, reminiscent of Venetian art and the teachings received from Francesco Simonini and Charles Parrocel, while the scenic structure reflects the fruitful lesson of Flemish art. The result is a skilful blend of Rococo taste and an emancipated Nordic sensibility, which confirm the dating of the work to the Parisian period, when in 1761 it made its first appearance at the Salon and its creations were appreciated by Diderot. The work is accompanied by a critical file by Filippo Pedrocco. Reference bibliography: G. Sestieri, I Pittori di Battaglie. Maestri Italiani e Stranieri del XVII e XVIII Secolo, Roma 1999, pp. 601-602 F. Pedrocco, qualche idea su Francesco Casanova, in Lezioni di Metodo. Studies in honour of Lionello Puppi, Vicenza 2002, p. 273 G. Sestieri, I Battaglisti. La pittura di battaglia dal XVI al XVIII secolo, Rome 2011, pp. 102-103