Lot Essay
In terms of scale and style of carving the sensitively carved figure of St. Michael offered here seems to relate most closely to the polychrome "creche" figures made in Naples in the 18th century. Even a cursory look at the works of artists such as Salvatore Franco and Giuseppe Gori, both working in the circle of Giuseppe Sanmartino (1720-1793), illustrates their use of heavy baroque forms, lavish use of polychromy and slightly caricature-like facial features that can all be seen on the St. Michael offered here.