Vittorio Amedeo Rapous (Turin 1729 -1800), Virgin Mary and blessing child

“The canvas depicting the Madonna and blessing child is an exciting discovery for lovers of 18th century Piedmontese art and for painting enthusiasts in general. It is in fact a painting of excellent quality and in an excellent state of conservation which, in my opinion, is the work of one of the most important and capable artists that the 18th century Piedmont can boast of: Vittorio Amedeo Rapous.

The following brief description is in part taken from a larger essay, edited by the writer, which is dedicated to a series of unpublished paintings by Rapous found in public and private collections. These were discovered during the years of study of 18th century Piedmontese art. All bibliographic and documentary articles are thus highlighted and widely discussed in the above-mentioned essay, which is currently in press, and will be part of the volumes of the Società Piemontese di Archeologia e Belle Arti (publication is expected within the first half of 2018).

Vittorio Amedeo Rapous, baptized on 7th July 1729 in Turin, was thirty-five years younger than the master Claudio Francesco Beaumont; in 1748, at the age of nineteen, he enrolled at the School of Drawing chaired by the court painter, where he will remain enrolled as a boarder until 1755 (Graffione, 2011, p. 114.). As early as 1751 Beaumont began to entrust him with works such as the pictorial decoration, together with Domenico Molinari and Niccolò Peiroleri, of the sculptures of the Addolorata, which had been sculpted by the Clemente brothers for the SS. Annunziata di Torino (Tamburini, 2002, pp. 209-210; Graffione, 2011, p. 114). ”

Click HERE for a full description in the Catalogue Twenty-five years of activity 2017/2018, pg. 76-77