Pier Francesco Garola or Garolli (Giaveno, 1636 – Rome, 1716) View of a glimpse of the basilica and St. Peter's square, 1672 Signed and dated: «P:F: Garolli F. 1672». Oil on canvas, 98 x 136 cm. Unpublished. SOLD […] for the Roman commission – regardless of the various versions of the «Piazza San Pietro» painted by Gaspar van Wittel, set with a frontal view of the basilica, instead offering us a completely original solution, with a perspective cut in which the obelisk acts almost as an introductory backdrop on the right, thus leaving little more than half of the façade and the entire left Bernini colonnade in view. The one on the right was deliberately not included, because Garola (or Garolli) imagines that it is still under construction, representing in the foreground various stonemasons roughing out the marble and squaring the pieces prepared for its construction. Among these is a boulder next to the man with his back turned, who has suspended his work – his tools are resting on the block on which he sits -, with the painter's signature and date: «P:F: Garolli F. 1672»… (See Giamblanco 2015 catalog) [Giancarlo Sestieri] For more information send us an email: galleria@giamblanco.com Go to main website