Two New Italian Paintings for the Bemberg Collection in Toulouse

The Collection Bemberg in Toulouse has acquired two new Italian paintings, including a still life by Bernardo Strozzi (1581-1644) purchased at the Maastricht art fair from Galerie Canesso. The work, a vibrant depiction of peonies and fruit, was previously sold at Sotheby's London in July 2013 and first published in 1985. The acquisition continues the museum's decade-long strategy of enriching its holdings with major works sourced from the art market, guided by its scientific council.

This acquisition matters because it reinforces the Collection Bemberg's reputation for curatorial excellence and its commitment to expanding its Italian Old Master collection. The Strozzi still life, praised for its freshness, impasto technique, and modern sensibility, represents a significant addition to the museum's holdings and highlights the ongoing rediscovery of Strozzi as a still-life painter, a field revived by scholar Bertina Suida Manning in the 1980s. The purchase also underscores the importance of art fairs like Maastricht as key venues for institutional acquisitions.