Lot Essay
The 'autumn' bacchanalian vignette and the vine-festooned border derive from Michelangelo Pergolesi's Designs for Various Ornaments, published in parts between 1777 and 1801, pl. XXXIX.
The decorative painter Michelangelo Pergolesi (d. circa 1801) was probably bought to England by Robert Adam. His only recorded work for Adam was to decorate the sixty-two pilasters with which the architect transformed the medieval long gallery at Syon into a neo-classical room. However, his Designs probably paid a large part in the dissemination of Adamesque ornament and his name has often been used to describe that style of decorative painting.
The same bacchanalian design was used en grisaille on a tripod table top that was sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 20 June 1974, lot 93.
The decorative painter Michelangelo Pergolesi (d. circa 1801) was probably bought to England by Robert Adam. His only recorded work for Adam was to decorate the sixty-two pilasters with which the architect transformed the medieval long gallery at Syon into a neo-classical room. However, his Designs probably paid a large part in the dissemination of Adamesque ornament and his name has often been used to describe that style of decorative painting.
The same bacchanalian design was used en grisaille on a tripod table top that was sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 20 June 1974, lot 93.