Luca Forte (Naples 1615-1670)

First attributed to Luca Forte in 1974 by Maurizio Marini, the present work is a characteristic example of the Neapolitan painter’s feathery, sparkling touch and meticulous attention to detail. Known for introducing the naturalism of Caravaggio to still-life painting in Naples, Forte also absorbed the influence of Spanish artists working in southern Italy, such as Blas de Ledesma and Juan van der Hamen, developing a unique style which blends bold chiaroscuro with an unmistakable precision and delicate grace. Not usually found in Forte’s work, the fish have an explicit religious connotation in the context of the composition: apples, emblematic of Original Sin, refer to the Fall of Man, while the grape represents the Eucharist and, consequently, the chance for redemption offered by Christ the Savior – whose symbol is the fish.