Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 16 June 1916, lot 36 as Guido, where offered together with a Madonna and Child by Raffaellino del Garbo;
Nettleford collection, London, as 'after Guido Reni, The Temptations of Youth' (according to Witt Library mount);
Private collection.

The support consists of a single slab of polished black marble to which the paint has been applied directly. The paint surface is dirty but generally in good condition with the details nicely preserved. There are some scattered old losses throughout and an old surface scratch lower right, as visible in the catalogue illustration. Inspection under UV light reveals some retouching to the darks of Philosophy's wings and in the skirt of History/Prudence. Offered in a gilt wood and plaster frame in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Until now known only through a Witt Library mount where it is erroneously filed under Guido Reni, this beautiful unpublished painting is an important addition to Alessandro Turchi's oeuvre. The Witt's filing of the picture under Reni is presumably down to its association with the Bolognese artist at the time of the 1916 sale and whilst in the Nettleford collection (see Provenance). The design should however be considered Turchi's own.

Though the artist was trained in Verona, he moved to Rome as a young man and quickly absorbed local trends. The soft features of the classicising figures thus look back to Annibale Carracci, while the strong chiaroscuro effect made possible through the black surface of the slate suggest that Turchi was sympathetic to the Caravaggesque influence in Rome. The work should be compared to a Judgement of Paris sold in the Rooms which shows similar graceful female figures as well as the same interest in form and musculature.¹

As with many of Turchi's small secular works the present painting was probably commissioned for a private patron. To the left of the composition stands winged Philosophy, holding her traditional attributes of a sceptre and crown, while to the right stands Prudence, with her usual mirror, who also represents History, as per the inscription on her book. In the centre is Man, the proverbial blank slate (the TABULA RASA of the tablet in his right hand) being filled with wisdom, as two tongues of the fire of knowledge rise up from his mind. In his left hand is inscribed INTELLECT /AC... ENIM /...QVID /DIVINO, roughly translating as "What man has achieved comes from divine inspiration".


1.  Anonymous sale, London, Sotheby's, 4 July 2007, lot 51, for £125,000.