Giovanni Crivelli, known as Il Crivellino (Milan? Italy, 1680/90 - Parma, Italy, 1760) Title: Still life with dog and game in a rural landscape Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: without frame 93 × 115 cm – with frame 106 x 128 x 5 cm Not signed Expertise by Fabio Obertelli, art historian The subject and the lively character of the brushstrokes suggest attribution to Giovanni Crivelli. This is also possible by taking into account the countless similar compositions he painted. Active in Milan as a genre painter and documented from 1662 to 1730, Crivelli specialised in the depiction of animals, especially in hunting and bird themes, drawing inspiration from the works of the Flemish artists including Melchior de Hondecoeter (1636-1695), Jan Weenix (1640-1719), Frans Snyders (1579-1657) and Jan o Joannes Fyt o Fijt (1611-1661). This painting can therefore be considered typical of his work. The artist's painting technique is refined, rich in lacquers and glazes, with well-calibrated thicknesses and rich in luminosity. These aspects contributed to Crivelli's critical and collecting success. He is undoubtedly considered one of the best animal painters of 18th-century Italian painting, and it is no coincidence that he was in the service of the Savoy court and the Lombard nobility, thanks to his decorative style with remarkable scenic effect.