Skip to main content
Items Similar to Portrait Philosopher Heraclitus Beinaschi Paint 17th Century Oil on canvas Italy
Unknown - Large Beautiful Early 17th Century Painting of St Peter
Large Beautiful Early 17th Century Painting of St Peter
Unknown - Baroque Italian painter - 17/18th century figure painting - Franciscan friar
Baroque Italian painter - 17/18th century figure painting - Franciscan friar
Guido Reni - Portrait of Saint Jerome - Italian Old Master c1620 religious art oil painting
Portrait of Saint Jerome - Italian Old Master c1620 religious art oil painting
Tomaso Pombioli (Crema, 1579 – Crema, 1636) - Saint John Baptist Pombioli Paint 17th Century Oil on canvas Old master Italy
Saint John Baptist Pombioli Paint 17th Century Oil on canvas Old master Italy
Unknown - Italian Baroque painter - 18th century Allegorical painting - Cronus
Italian Baroque painter - 18th century Allegorical painting - Cronus
Giovanni Battista Beinaschi - 17th Century by Giovanni Battista Beinaschi Saint Bartholomew Oil on Canvas
17th Century by Giovanni Battista Beinaschi Saint Bartholomew Oil on Canvas
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 14

Portrait Philosopher Heraclitus Beinaschi Paint 17th Century Oil on canvas Italy

1660-1680

$7,257.99
$9,072.4920% Off
£5,378.46
£6,723.0720% Off
€6,136VAT Included
€7,67020% Off
CA$10,037.91
CA$12,547.3820% Off
A$10,123.30
A$12,654.1320% Off
CHF 5,893.40
CHF 7,366.7520% Off
MX$123,205.74
MX$154,007.1820% Off
NOK 67,541.98
NOK 84,427.4720% Off
SEK 69,794.53
SEK 87,243.1720% Off
DKK 46,785.34
DKK 58,481.6720% Off

About the Item

Giovanni Battista Beinaschi (Fossano c. 1634 - Naples 1688) Portrait of the philosopher Heraclitus (absorbed in reading) Oil on canvas (82 x 64 cm - Framed 95 x 75 cm.) The painting shows an intense image of the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, portrayed as a mature man holding a book in his hands, an emblem of a life dedicated to study, and is presented here as a pendant to the portrait of the philosopher Democritus (see photo in the details). This type of subject, dedicated to the great philosophers or scholars of antiquity, was very dear to the figurative tradition and collecting tastes of the 17th century: in our case, we have one of the two key figures of pre-Socratic philosophical thought, often juxtaposed because of their opposing and complementary views of the human condition. If we look in detail at the iconography of the two philosophers, Heraclitus and Democritus, the portrait presented here follows the tradition that generally contrasts the sombre and contemplative character of the former with the more open and detached character of the latter. This opposite attitude towards reality and the human condition made them symbolic figures in thought and a favourite subject of various artists, especially in the Baroque period, due to their strong symbolic value and implications for the interpretation of the human condition (1). In the painting shown here, Democritus, “the atomist philosopher”, gazes fixedly and detachedly at the observer, representing his view of life. According to his philosophy, in fact, all reality is just a meaningless dance of atoms and it is therefore useless to strive to find meaning in existence. There is no point in agonising over the absurdity of the world, but rather to distance oneself from passions and face them with lightness. The observer is captivated by the enigmatic nature of his expression, and the white-covered book that the philosopher holds in his hand becomes a symbol of this. In the proposed painting, Heraclitus “the obscure philosopher” gazes intently at the open book, aware of the tragic fragility that overwhelms all things, with his hand gesturing to turn the pages. As for the style of the work, the scholar is depicted with a profound scenographic approach in a vigorous Baroque style, with marked facial features. The backlighting effects and a magical chiaroscuro atmosphere make the character dynamic, oriented towards a light source that touches his face. By studying the characteristics and related details, we can attribute the work to the late Baroque painter Giovan Battista Beinaschi (1634 - 1688), whose prolific activity was concentrated between Rome, where he trained, and Naples. Nevertheless, he moved frequently throughout his career between Turin, Parma, perhaps Bologna and Genoa, assimilating varied artistic influences from each place. Although he initially showed a propensity for Roman classicism, this influence was soon supplanted by an increasingly pronounced approach to the Baroque cultural front. (1) We can find many examples of this interesting iconography in art, for example in Hendrick ter Brugghen's “Heraclitus and Democritus”, or in the same subject by Gregorio Preti. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The work is sold complete with a gilded wooden frame and comes with a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic card. We arrange and organise the transport of purchased works, both in Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. It is also possible to view the painting in our gallery in Riva del Garda, where we will be delighted to welcome you and show you our collection of works. Please contact us, without obligation, for any further information.
  • Attributed to:
    Giovanni Battista Beinaschi (Fossano c. 1634 - Naples 1688)
  • Creation Year:
    1660-1680
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 37.41 in (95 cm)Width: 29.53 in (75 cm)
  • Medium:
    Oil
  • Movement & Style:
    Old Masters
  • Period:
    17th Century
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Riva del Garda, IT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU988116922592

More From This Seller

View All
Portrait Philosopher Democritus Beinaschi Paint 17th Century Oil on canvas

Giovanni Battista Beinaschi (Fossano, c. 1634 – Naples, 1688) Portrait Philosopher Democritus Beinaschi Paint 17th Century Oil on canvas, 1650-1670

Portrait Philosopher Democritus Beinaschi Paint 17th Century Oil on canvas

Located in Riva del Garda, IT

Giovanni Battista Beinaschi (Fossano, c. 1634 – Naples, 1688) Portrait of the philosopher Democritus (showing a book with a white cover) Oil on canvas (82 x 64 cm - Framed 95 x ...

Category

17th Century Old Masters Paintings

Materials

Oil

Portrait Philosopher Diogenes Still-life Brueghel Paint 17th Century Oil canvas

Abraham Brueghel (Antwerp 1631 – Naples 1690)Portrait Philosopher Diogenes Still-life Brueghel Paint 17th Century Oil canvas, 1660-1720

Portrait Philosopher Diogenes Still-life Brueghel Paint 17th Century Oil canvas

Located in Riva del Garda, IT

Abraham Brueghel (Antwerp 1631 – Naples 1690) workshop Portrait of the Greek philosopher Diogenes with a still life of fruit and flowers Oil on canvas 130 x 94 cm. - Framed 153...

Category

17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Saint Mark Evangelist Guercino Paint Oil on canvas Old master 17th Century Italy

Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, known as Il Guercino (Cento, 1591 - Bologna, 1666)Saint Mark Evangelist Guercino Paint Oil on canvas Old master 17th Century Italy, 1670-1720

Saint Mark Evangelist Guercino Paint Oil on canvas Old master 17th Century Italy

Located in Riva del Garda, IT

Workshop of Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, known as Il Guercino (Cento, 1591 - Bologna, 1666) Saint Mark the Evangelist Oil on canvas - 85 x 71 cm., Framed 100 x 86 cm. Of great cha...

Category

17th Century Old Masters Paintings

Materials

Oil

You May Also Like

Large 17th century Italian School Philosopher Portrait Oil on Canvas

Large 17th century Italian School Philosopher Portrait Oil on Canvas

Large 17th century Italian School Philosopher Portrait Oil on Canvas

Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire

A very large mid-17th century Italian school oil profile portrait of a philosopher, painted on a rectangular canvas and mounted in a painted and gilded antique frame. Reminiscent of...

Category

Antique Mid-17th Century Italian Neoclassical Paintings

Materials

Wood, Paint, Canvas

17th Century Oil on Canvas Italian Portrait Painting Philosopher in his Study

17th Century Oil on Canvas Italian Portrait Painting Philosopher in his Study, 1670

17th Century Oil on Canvas Italian Portrait Painting Philosopher in his Study

Located in Vicoforte, IT

An important 17th-century Italian painting. Oil on canvas artwork depicting a rare and fascinating subject: a philosopher in his study. The composition features an elderly male figur...

Category

1670s Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Italian Baroque painter - 18th century Allegorical painting - Cronus

Italian Baroque painter - 18th century Allegorical painting - Cronus, c.1730

Italian Baroque painter - 18th century Allegorical painting - Cronus

Located in Varmo, IT

Italian painter (18th century) - Cronus. 90.5 x 106 cm. Oil on canvas, unframed (not signed). The painting depicts Cronus, Greek deity of time and the harvest, in a composition of...

Category

Early 18th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Large Beautiful Early 17th Century Painting of St Peter

Large Beautiful Early 17th Century Painting of St Peter, 1630

Large Beautiful Early 17th Century Painting of St Peter

Located in London, GB

17th Century Italian School St Peter Oil on Canvas 55 1/2 x 41 inches This large and tender rendering of Saint Peter was painted by the hand of great Italian painter of the 17th Cen...

Category

Early 17th Century Baroque Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil