FLORENTINE, LATE 17TH OR EARLY 18TH CENTURY

Stylistically, the highly elaborate pietra dura panel offered here relates very closely to a number of panels in the Museo dell' Opificio delle Pietre Dure, Florence, dated to the late 17th and early 18th centuries (loc. cit.). In terms of stones, each of these panels uses a similar type of translucent alabaster to render the clouds, a very comparable greyish/green stone for the sea and a similar striated pink/white marble to render clothing on some of the figures. In terms of style and composition, the panels are also closely comparable as they depict a traditional coastal scene with 'ancient' ruins prominently placed in the foreground, small houses in the background and people, often shepherds and fishermen, at work. A group of four panels of a similar size to the present lot dated to the late 17th/early 18th century can be found on a secretaire by Martin Carlin dated to circa 1780 that is housed in the Musée du Louvre, Paris (A. Giusti, Pietre Dure and the Art of Florentine Inlay, London, 2006, pl. 167). Although the latter panels are less intricate and complex than the present panel, they each display a similar use of stones and treatment of composition.