Ritorno su Federico Bencovich

The aim of the article is to provide a summary and brief overview of the studies that examined the Dalmatian painter Federico Bencovich after the publication of the 1988 monograph. The article touches upon the incompleteness of the monograph, not only in terms of doubted and rejected attributions but also the inadequacy of the description of the complex figure and culture of the artist. Next, previously published archival data are presented yet without an evaluation of their influence on Bencovich's work or chronology, for instance documents concerning the altar-piece in Borgo San Giacomo. In addition, a series of previously unpublished paintings is presented. Some of these are considered to have a fundamental value for the painter, for example the David and the Concert of Two Shepherd Boys, attributed to the author based on stylistic analysis because of the lack of other documentary elements. A comparison of new documents and new paintings reveals an updated portrait of Federico Bencovich, considered to have been the most important Dalmatian artist of Baroque and 18(th) century art. However, significant questions that have not yet been answered are also exposed.