Battle scene in front of a fortress.

Drawing, pen and brush with black and grey ink, 21 x 36,5 cm (visible), laid paper framed with gilt lines.

Passe-partout, wooden frame (not studied outside frame).

Simonini (Parma 1686-after 1753 Venice or Florence) was an Italian painter. He travelled to Florence, Rome and Bologna but found success in Venice, where he worked for Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg, mercenary commander of the Venetian forces in the struggle against the Turks, from 1733 to 1745 and painted a great number of battle scenes involving cavalry. His peculiar style, characterised by quick brushstrokes and the use of bright colours, was developed under the influence of the contemporary Venetian school with particular reference to view painters such as Marco Ricci and Francesco Guardi.