Nuove proposte per Francesco Ruschi

The essay introduces new findings on the biographical account of Francesco Ruschi's Venetian years: a payment for the ceiling of Sant'Anna di Castello - his most majestic work - and two agreements of "garzonato" (apprenticeship) providing information us about the artistic workshop. Some additions to the artist's catalogue are here suggested: three paintings with allegorical figures - attributable with good certainty to the dispersed ceiling of Sant'Anna and known only from photo- graphic documentation - allow to complete a reconstruction, however fragmentary, of this elaborate work by Ruschi. Furthermore, a 'Crucifixion', a scene with Jutice and Peace', which have transited in the international antique market several times, and a fragment of a painting representing a 'Young man with a shield', recently found in Vienna, are presented. The very high quality of the latter work, along of some specific elements, suggests it might indeed be part of an altarpiece by Ruschi, documented by contemporary sources in the church of San Polo in Venice.