Nicolò Bambini

Nicolò Bambini
1652 – 1736
Susanna and the Two Elders
Oil on canvas
147.5 x 200.5 cm, with frame 170 x 222 cm
Provenance: European private collection, auction at the Dorotheum (Old Masters I, 2022, Lot No. 90), since then in the Vienna private collection of Dr. Adrian Hollaender.

Hollaender Collection
This collection of renowned Old Masters, built up over many years with both expertise and good taste, comes from the home of the well – known Viennese lawyer, author (e.g., “Pavarotti – Addio Luciano,” “Legends and Stars of Opera”), and cultural manager Dr. Adrian Hollaender.
Having grown up in a distinctly artistic environment, where his parents—the actress and artist manager Univ. – Prof. Ariane Hollaender – Calix, and the legendary long – time director of the Vienna State Opera, Ioan Holender, stood out as avid art lovers and collectors, Dr. Adrian Hollaender established himself as a collector of outstanding masterpieces of painting.
His collection, now being offered exclusively for auction at Tiberius Auction House, comprises select works by famous Italian masters, such as Andrea Vaccaro’s well – known Old Testament painting “Abraham dismissing Hagar and Ishmael,” which bears his monogram; Sassoferrato’s atmospheric “Madonna in Prayer” or old Venetian masterpieces by Nicolò Bambini and Francesco Corneliani and the legendary Il Mirandolese, through impressive portraits by the Turin master painter La Clementina, to Dutch masters such as van Goyen and Pieter Wtewael, as well as, as special additions, an old French tapestry and a typical Matisse.

Nicolò Bambini is considered one of the defining figures of Venetian painting in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He initially trained in Venice under Sebastiano Mazzoni before moving to Rome at a young age, where he became familiar with the classical movement in Roman painting through his association with Carlo Maratta. After returning to Venice, Bambini developed a distinctive visual language that combined Venetian color with Roman clarity of composition. He received major commissions from the Venetian Republic and the local nobility, including extensive decorative projects for churches and palaces such as Santo Stefano and the Palazzo Ca’ Pesaro. His later work also reveals an engagement with Luca Giordano’s dynamic style, while toward the end of his life he also collaborated with Giambattista Tiepolo. Even during his lifetime, Bambini was regarded as a versatile and prolific artist whose oeuvre encompasses a broad spectrum of mythological and biblical themes.
This painting depicts the Old Testament story of Susanna and the Two Elders (Daniel 13), a subject that enjoyed particular popularity in Baroque painting due to its combination of moral narrative and sensual depiction. The pious Susanna is observed while bathing by two older men, who harass her and threaten her with false accusations should she not yield to them. The scene culminates in the moment of threat and inner conflict, before Susanna is publicly slandered and can only be saved through the intervention of the prophet Daniel. The painting was previously offered at an auction at the Dorotheum, where it was examined and classified from an art – historical perspective.
At the center of the composition stands the young Susanna, whose body is only partially covered by a white cloth concealing her modesty. She sits by a spring from which water flows in a small waterfall from a satyr – like fountain head. In a dynamic, diagonal movement, she appears to be just rising to her feet: she supports herself with her left hand, while her raised right hand forms a startled, defensive gesture. Her head is turned to the right, and her gaze is directed at the two men, full of fear and rejection. Her artfully pinned – up hair is adorned with pearls and ribbons, complemented by delicate pearl earrings, which emphasize her status and beauty. Carefully placed lighting highlights her body—particularly her chest, abdomen, and thighs—thus intensifying the tension between innocence and the voyeuristic threat posed by the older men.
These two figures appear on the left diagonal of the picture and are rendered in significantly darker tones. The man in the foreground rests his right hand on the edge of the fountain basin and leans forward, while his cloak drapes in a large, rounded fold across his back. The second, slightly recessed old man grabs Susanna by the shoulder and holds her fast; at the same time, he makes a threatening gesture with his hand, underscoring the moral pressure of the situation. Both men are depicted with long, silver – gray hair and beards, whose flowing strands reinforce the impression of vitality and drama. The entire scene is framed by dark foliage, while a bright, bluish sky opens up in the background. The water also appears comparatively dark, causing Susanna’s light – colored body to stand out even more and become the visual focal point of the composition.
The painting impressively illustrates Bambini’s ability to combine dramatic narrative with an elegant formal language. Characteristic features include the dynamic composition, the nuanced interplay of light and shadow, and the expressive gestures of the figures, which intensify the emotional tension of the scene. At the same time, the color scheme remains soft and harmonious, revealing an affinity with the Venetian tradition. Bambini succeeds in uniting influences from Roman classicism, Venetian painting, and the dynamic visual language of the Baroque. His works exemplify the transitional phase between the austere classicism of the 17th century and the emerging lightness and elegance of Venetian Rococo.