ONE BY BIAGIO BARZOTTI (FL. C. 1835-1908), ROME, CIRCA 1850-1875

Details

TWO ITALIAN MICROMOSAIC PLAQUES
ONE BY BIAGIO BARZOTTI (FL. C. 1835-1908), ROME, CIRCA 1850-1875
One rectangular plaque depicting a shepherd and two shepherdesses in the Roman countryside, the man seated and playing the flute, the two women listening, one holding a spindle, the other a wool carding tool, with a partial label to the reverse of the plaque inscribed 'BARZOTTI/ [MOSAI]CISTA/ [RO]MA/ ... 450 no 57/... 2 Eposizioni' , mounted in a giltwood frame; the other oval plaque depicting a view of the Roman Forum, with the arch of Septimus Severus, three columns from the Temple of Vespasian, The Temple of Saturn and the Column of Phocas beyond, within a spreading Belgian black marble border and an rectangular architectural ebonized frame with a standing support to the reverse
The shepherds: 6 ½ x 7 ¼ in. (16.5 x 18 cm.) the plaque; 10 ½ x11 in. (26.7 x 28 cm.), including frame
The Roman lanscape: 5 x 6 ¼ in. (12.7 x 15.5 cm.) the plaque; 10 ¼ x 11 ¾ in. (26 x 30 cm.), including frame

Brought to you by

Giles Forster

gforster@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2146

Lot Essay

Working from his studio located at 57 via del Babuino, Biagio Barzotti was an active mosaicist for the Vatican workshops until the end of the 19th century. On occasion, the artist was commissioned to render works for Pope Leo XIII (d.1903), the most notable of which depict the Pontiff blessing a congregation at St. Peter's Basilica.

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