Paolo Fanfani, the wood sculptor, was born in 1823 in Florence, and studied there at the Academy and later with Dupré under Luigi Sani. Fanfani created the large gilt chandelier in wood and iron for the Throne Room of the Palazzo Pitti. In 1861 he exhibited a richly decorated frame for the portrait of Count Francesco Larderel at the first Italian Exhibition in Florence. Fanfani exhibited widely and worked on several foreign commissions, producing fine frames, crucifixes, reliefs, chandeliers, altars and candelabras in wood. The present relief is a charming example of Fanfani's skilful workmanship and rich imagination.