Lot 54. Giovanni Battista Ruoppolo (Milan 1616 - 1681 Bologna), Watermelon, Melon, Grapes, Apples, Pomegranates, Peaches, Figs and Quinces in a landscape, oil on canvas, 50 by 63 in.; 127 by 160 cm. Estimate 40,000–60,000 USD. Lot sold 16,250 USD. Courtesy Sotheby's.

Provenance: With Gustavo Rol, Turin. 

Exhibited: Turin, Fondazione Accorsi, L'incantesimo dei sensi: una collezione di nature morte del Seicento per il Museo Accorsi, 30 November 2005 - 1 May 2006, no. 5 (as attributed to Tommaso Salini).

Literature: A. Cottino,  L'incantesimo dei sensi: una collezione di nature morte del Seicento per il Museo Accorsi, exhibition catalogue, Turin 2005, pp. 48-49, 101-102, cat. no. 5, reproduced. 

Note: Though Milanese by birth, Pier Francesco Cittadini moved to Bologna as a young artist and then to Rome in the 1640s.  He initially trained with Daniele Crespi, but once in Bologna he studied under Guido Reni.  His oeuvre includes both portraits (see lot 108) and elaborate tabletop still lifes, many with architectural scenes (as in the present painting) or figures in the background (see lot 56).