Oil on canvas, 39.5 x 49.5cm. In a carved and gilded frame.
Agostino Buonamici was of lowly birth, later adopting the name Tassi to give credence to his claim that he had been adopted by Marchese Tassi.
Primarily a painter of landscapes and seascapes, he is said to have acquired material for the latter whilst working as a galley slave in one of the Florentine Grand Duke’s convict galleys.
Today he is perhaps chiefly remembered for the rape of Artemisia Gentileschi, committed whilst working with her father.
He was, though, a master of perspective and also a fine exponent of illusionistic architectural decoration.
