An allegorical figure riding a centaur, his hands tied up; An allegorical figure riding a centauress; and Two allegorical figures holding garlands

Michelangelo Maestri is mainly known for the bodycolours that he based on the then only recently discovered wall frescoes in Pompeii. The drawings, which are often over etched outlines, became very popular amongst travellers on their Grand Tour. Aside from Roman frescoes, the artist also drew inspiration from Renaissance artists such as Giulio Romano (circa 1499-1546) and Raphael Sanzio da Urbino (1483-1520). Maestri’s inscriptions on some of The Hours of the Day or Night, allude that he based them on works by Raphael; however the originals are no longer known. A set of The Hours of the Day or Night (12), attributed to Maestri, was sold at Christie's, London, 23 November 2015, lot 325 (£35,000).