Old Man Lighting a Pipe
Johann Carl Loth·c. 1660
Historical Context
Johann Carl Loth painted this Old Man Lighting a Pipe around 1660, a genre subject treated with the dramatic Caravaggesque style he practiced in Venice. Loth, a German painter who settled permanently in Venice, became one of the leading tenebristi in the city, specializing in dark, dramatically lit compositions. His genre scenes of old men and philosophers demonstrate the influence of both Caravaggio and Ribera on his powerful, naturalistic approach.
Technical Analysis
Loth's oil on canvas demonstrates the stark Caravaggesque lighting that defines his Venetian work, with the old man's face illuminated by the flame of his pipe against a deep black background. The rough, vigorous brushwork and the warm flesh tones reflect his distinctive blend of German directness with Venetian painterly traditions.
Provenance
Possibly Antony Hoevenaar, Amsterdam; sold 15 April, 1693, no. 6, "een Italianse Toebakdrinker, konstig van [Loth] [see Gerhard Ewald, Johann Carl Loth: 1632-1698 (Amsterdam, 1965), p. 124, no. 558]." Possibly Jan Smees, Amsterdam; sold 6 April 1729, no. 4, "een Tabaks Rooker, Kragtig en kunstig geschildert door Carlotti [see Ewald 1965, p. 124, no. 559]." Christie's, London, 24 May 1985, no. 107 (ill.); Capitoline Fine Arts Ltd., Washington, D. C., 1985 to 1987; sold to The Art Institute, 1987.
