LATE 18TH CENTURY, IN THE MANNER OF GIUSEPPE MARIA BONZANIGO

Giuseppe Maria Bonzanigo (d. 1820) and his workshop received particularly great acclaim for their microscultura and counted the House of Savoy and subsequently Napoleon among their many patrons. The fine detailing of the present panel is typical of the type of work produced by Bonzanigo, similar detailing can be found in a number of related micro-carvings and miniature frames by him, including an intriguing relief-carved self-portrait of circa 1795 (see C. Bertolotto and V. Villani (eds.), 'Giuseppe Maria Bonzanigo: Intaglio minuto e grande decorazione', Exhibition Catalogue, Venaria, 1989, p. 32) and a portrait relief of Napoleon Bonaparte, sold Sotheby's, Amsterdam, 27 March 2007, lot 1208 (EUR 108,000).