A Roman micro-mosaic panel depicting The Crucifixion

AFTER GUIDO RENI, BY PROFESSORE CASPO LORENZO, VATICAN STUDIOS, CIRCA 1890-1900

Details

A Roman micro-mosaic panel depicting The Crucifixion
After Guido Reni, By Professore Caspo Lorenzo, Vatican Studios, Circa 1890-1900
In an acanthus-carved giltwood frame, the reverse with wax Vatican seal and paper Papal seal for Pope Benedict XV, with paper label printed Giuseppe Faggiani/Sottedecano Anticamera Pontificia and later added illegible ink inscription, with Vatican Studios label with ink inscription No. 2129/il Cristo/Del Guido Reni/Prof. Caspio Lorenzo, with two Los Angeles County Museum of Art inventory labels, with pencil inscription Secondo Guasti and with a metal label printed FROM THE BEQUEST OF/LOUISA A. GUASTI
The panel: 20in. x 13½in. (50.8cm. x 34.3cm.)

Lot Essay

Judging by the various labels and inscriptions on the reverse of this framed micro-mosaic, it appears to have been made for, or acquired by, Giuseppe Faggiani, Sub-Deacon to the Pontiff's Anti-Chamber during the papal rule of Benedict XV (1914-1922). At a later date, it was acquired by Secondo Guasti, who in 1900 founded the Italian Vineyard Company in southern California, which measuring some 5000 contiguous acres by 1910, was proclaimed to be the world's largest. The micro-mosaic then appears to have been inherited by Louisa A. Guasti, possibly Secondo's daughter, before being bequeathed to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. It is not certain when the work was deaccessioned by the Museum.

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