Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 18 works by Ilario Spolverini in our catalogue
In short
Joshua stops the sun is the Ilario Spolverini painting that draws the most eyes; the original belongs to the Musei Civici di Palazzo Farnese, Piacenza. After it, the eye goes to Allegory of the construction of the castle of Piacenza and Philip V and Elizabeth Farnese in front of their first-born. Among the 18 works of Ilario Spolverini in our catalog, these 18 are the most famous, each a unique original presented with its year, its museum and the reason it endures.
The canvas captures a moment of divine intervention amidst the chaos of war. Joshua stands as the central figure, commanding the sun to halt its course to ensure victory for his army. Around him, the battlefield is a whirlwind of movement, where soldiers and cavalry are caught in the heat of combat. The composition uses a dynamic arrangement to convey the intensity of the struggle, positioning figures at varying depths…
The Allegory of the construction of the castle of Piacenza by Ilario Spolverini captures a moment of architectural and political ambition. Painted about 1700-1720, the work centers on the figure of Pier Luigi Farnese, the first duke, who appears on horseback. He moves through a landscape defined by the weight of his singular architectural initiative. The canvas holds the tension between the physical labor of building and the symbolic forces…
The air in the room feels heavy with the weight of lineage and the quiet hush of a nursery. Philip V and Elizabeth Farnese lean toward their first-born, their bodies forming a protective arc around the sleeping infant. A deep, saturated red background envelops the figures, pushing them forward and making the scene feel immediate, as if we have just stepped into their private quarters. The light catches the fine…
In the grand tapestry of European history, few moments possess the weight and political gravity captured in Ilario Giacinto Mercanti’s Philip II appoints Alexander Farnese as governor of Flanders. This evocative painting serves as a window into a pivotal era of transition and power, depicting a scene where the fate of entire provinces hung upon a single royal decree. The composition centers on the presence of a monarch, draped in…
In the sweeping canvas of Italian Baroque history, few moments capture the intersection of personal heartache and political destiny as vividly as Ilario Giacinto Mercanti’s Farewell of Elizabeth Farnese from the Farnese court on the Cento Croci mountain. Known affectionately by his moniker "lo Spolverini," the artist serves here as both a chronicler and a dramatist, transporting the viewer to a pivotal departure in the life of one of Europe's…
is a work by the Italian Baroque painter Ilario Giacinto Mercanti. Also known as Spolverini, the artist was born in 1657 in Parma, Italy, and died in 1734 in Piacenza. His practice involved significant commissions for various noble families within the Parma and Piacenza regions.
A large-scale oil on canvas captures a moment of profound civic significance within a bustling town square. The composition centers on a grand building, likely a cathedral, characterized by a prominent dome that anchors the architectural landscape. Beneath this structure, a dense crowd has gathered to witness a formal presentation. Horses are interspersed among the assembly, some standing stationary near the onlookers while others are positioned further in the background,…
A single man in a red robe holds a map, his fingers tracing the lines of a territory that has just been yielded. Around him, the air is thick with the weight of decision. Figures gather in the shadows, their gazes fixed upon the parchment and the man who commands it. The scene is a quiet collision of power and geography. A red canopy hangs in the background, a heavy…
In the sweeping theatricality of the Italian Baroque, few moments capture the essence of social ritual as elegantly as Ilario Giacinto Mercanti’s Visit to court. This masterful composition serves as a window into a bygone era of ceremony and prestige, where every gesture carries the weight of tradition. At the heart of the canvas, two figures clad in striking red suits engage in a firm handshake, a central pivot point…
The air in the room feels heavy with the weight of an unspoken pact. Within this oval-shaped composition, the focus narrows to a single, decisive gesture: the handshake between Duke Francis and Cardinal Gozzadini. This central contact point acts as the anchor for the entire scene, drawing the eye through a series of diagonal lines that lead directly to the meeting of hands. Around these two central figures, a crowd…
Troops and weapons embarkingMusei Civici di Palazzo Farnese
12
Alexander Farnese receives the Papal RapierMusei Civici di Palazzo Farnese
13
Farnese prince watches the construction of a buildingMusei Civici di Palazzo Farnese
14
Jewish people led by Moses and AaronMusei Civici di Palazzo Farnese
15
Knights at BattleRocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
16
Entrance in Parma of cardinal Gozzadini, with cardinal Acquaviva and duke Francis FarneseMusei Civici di Palazzo Farnese
17
Elizabeth meets cardinals Gozzadini and AcquavivaMusei Civici di Palazzo Farnese
18
Paul III appoints his son Pier Luigi Gonfaloniere of the ChurchMusei Civici di Palazzo Farnese
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
The 2 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Ilario Spolverini | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Musei Civici di Palazzo Farnese |
Piacenza | 17 | Joshua stops the sun, Allegory of the construction of the castle of Piacenza, Philip V and Elizabeth Farnese in front of their first-born |
 Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato |
Fontanellato | 1 | Knights at Battle |
Joshua stops the sun, Musei Civici di Palazzo Farnese, Piacenza. Allegory of the construction of the castle of Piacenza and Philip V and Elizabeth Farnese in front of their first-born come next.
Joshua stops the sun, Allegory of the construction of the castle of Piacenza, Philip V and Elizabeth Farnese in front of their first-born, Philip II appoints Alexander Farnese as governor of Flanders, Farewell of Elizabeth Farnese from the Farnese court on the Cento Croci mountain, Victory, The community of Parma offers the town keys to don Charles of Borbone, Philip II accepts the subjection of Flanders, Visit to court and Meeting between duke Francis and cardinal Gozzadini. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
Our catalog holds 18 works by Ilario Spolverini.
Mostly in Musei Civici di Palazzo Farnese (Piacenza) and Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato (Fontanellato). The museum table above lists them all.
People (10), Man (5) and Chair (3), across the 18 works on this page.
Oil On Canvas, for 8 of the 18 works on this page.
Baroque, judging by the originals on this page.
Joshua stops the sun, Allegory of the construction of the castle of Piacenza and Philip V and Elizabeth Farnese in front of their first-born: the Musei Civici di Palazzo Farnese, Piacenza holds 17 of the works on this page.
