A PAIR OF BRONZE FIGURES OF VENUS AND MARS

Details

A PAIR OF BRONZE FIGURES OF VENUS AND MARS
WORKSHOP OF TIZIANO ASPETTI, VENETIAN, LATE 16TH/EARLY 17TH CENTURY

The figure of Venus standing in contrapposto amidst waves, with a dolphin and the sleeping figure of cupid at her feet, the helmeted figure of Mars holding a shield with Medusa's head, pulling a sword from its sheath with his right hand, standing on his abandoned cuirass ----- 16 5/8in. (42.2cm.) and 17¾in. (45.1cm.) high, on later antico giallo marble bases inset with bronze bacchanalian friezes ----- 7½in. (19cm.) high (2)

Provenance

Walter P. Chrysler Collection

Literature

L. Planiscig, Venezianische Bildhauer der Renaissance, Vienna, 1921, p. 569, pl. 625
J. Pope Hennessy and A. Radcliffe, The Frick Collection Vol III Sculpture, Italian, New York, 1970, p. 183f
H.R. Weihrauch, Europäische Bronzestatturetten, Braunschweig, 1967, pp. 160-162, pl. 196

Lot Essay

This pair of bronzes probably served as the finials for andirions, which accounts for the generalized quality of their modelling and chasing. Superior examples with more elaborate bases once belonged to peter Harris (sold Christie's, London, 18 July 1977, lot 58; Sotheby's New York, 27 November 1981, lot 12). These were correctly attributed to Tiziano Aspetti (1565-1607) on the basis of stylistic connections with signed reliefs of 1592 by him on the Alter of Saint Daniel in the crypt of the Duomo in Padua (See also duplicate reliefs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.)