Italian school; end of the XVII century.

Italian school; end of the 17th century.
"The family of David before Alexander the Great".
Oil on canvas. Relined.
Measurements: 59 x 78 cm; 84 x 102 cm (frame).
The scene shows the moment in which, after the battle of Issos, Alexander and his friend Hephaestius decided to visit the family of Darius, who had been defeated. The Macedonian hero promised Darius that he would not kill his relatives and after the end of the battle, due to Alexander's youth, Darius' mother, confused, knelt before Hephaestius, which was not taken into account by Alexander who continued to spare their lives. This scene reflects the exact moment in which Darius' mother, kneeling, thanks Alexander for his act of mercy, although it is true that the protagonist of this scene is not Hephaestius, but Alexander himself who is standing imposing over the rest of the figures that make up the image.
The figures that make up the scene have been conceived following the aesthetics of classicism, with a very marked perspective of humanist cut. The harmony typical of classicism can be appreciated in the attitudes of the characters that make up the scene. This harmony is also reflected in the palette chosen by the painter, very lively, but without excessive hallmarks in the coloring or in the light sources used. Formally, this work is dominated by the influence of the Roman-Bolognese classicism of the Carracci and their followers, one of the two great currents of the Italian Baroque, together with Caravaggio's naturalism. Thus, the figures are monumental, with idealized faces and serene and balanced gestures, in an idealized representation based on classical canons. Also the rhetoric of the gestures, theatrical and eloquent, clearly baroque, is typical of the Italian classicism of the XVII century. It is also worth mentioning the importance of the chromatic aspect, very thoughtful, intoned and balanced, centered on basic ranges around red, ochre and blue. Also the way of composing the scene, with a rhythm, typical of this school of baroque classicism.