Venus and Adonis, a Grand Tour fan, the chickenskin leaf painted with an oval vignette of Venus & Adonis from a fresco in the Villa Negroni, Rome, and two circular vignettes of estuaries, the reserves painted with decoration, the bone sticks carved with Venus and the three Graces, and two figures - 10in. (25cm.), Italian, mounted in England, circa 1780 - in 18th century English fan box

Details

Venus and Adonis, a Grand Tour fan, the chickenskin leaf painted with an oval vignette of Venus & Adonis from a fresco in the Villa Negroni, Rome, and two circular vignettes of estuaries, the reserves painted with decoration, the bone sticks carved with Venus and the three Graces, and two figures - 10in. (25cm.), Italian, mounted in England, circa 1780 - in 18th century English fan box

Lot Essay

The Emperor Antonius Pius's house on the Equine hill was discovered by Cavalier J. N. de Azara, Minister to Rome of Charles III of Spain. The King's Artist Anton Raphael Mengs (d.1790) was employed to copy the frescoes for a publication instigated by the Architect and Fan Painter, Camillo Buti, published between 1778 and 1802 and engraved by Angelo Campanello. Jonas Brooke (1758-1784) whilst on his Grand Tour was recommended to Mirri a print seller as "the coloured prints of the Villa Negroni are very pleasing; they make elegant fans"

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