Lot 164
164
A BRONZE GROUP OF THE VIRGIN, CHRIST AND THE INFANT ST. JOHN
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more PROPERTY OF THE ALFRED BEIT FOUNDATION (LOTS 137-198)
A BRONZE GROUP OF THE VIRGIN, CHRIST AND THE INFANT ST. JOHN

FOLLOWER OF JACOPO SANSOVINO, 16TH CENTURY

Details
A BRONZE GROUP OF THE VIRGIN, CHRIST AND THE INFANT ST. JOHN
FOLLOWER OF JACOPO SANSOVINO, 16TH CENTURY
The Virgin depicted standing, holding Christ in her left arm and with St. John at her side and a lamb behind her; on an integrally cast oval plinth bearing the signature 'JAC. SANSOVINI OPVS' on the front and inscribed in red on the reverse with the inventory number '259'; the group originally gilded, now with a later black lacquer through which much of the gilding is visible; on a modern spreading rectangular serpentine pietra nefritica o ponderia base; chips to base
4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm.) high; 5 5/8 in. (14.3 cm.) high, overall
Provenance
Purchased by Alfred (1853-1906) or Otto Beit (1865-1930) between 1904 and 1913.
Thence by descent to Lady (Clementine) Beit (1915-2005) by whom donated to the Alfred Beit Foundation in 2005.
Literature
W. Bode, Catalogue of the Collection of Pictures and Bronzes in thR Possession of Mr. Otto Beit, London, 1913, p. 114, no. 259, as 'Jacopo Tatti, called Sansovino'
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The composition of this bronze recalls the marble group of the Madonna and Child from the tomb of Galesio Nichesola, thought to have been executed by Sansovino in around 1532 (for a discussion of the monument see B. Boucher, The Sculpture of Jacopo Sansovino, New Haven and London, 1991, pp. 322-323, no. 12, figs. 85-87). The general pose of the Virgin is identical and the Christ differs only in the positioning of the proper right arm. However, there is no St. John in the marble group, and details of the faces and drapery in the bronze are quite generalised by comparison. The author of the present lot was presumably aware of the Nichesola monument and was inspired to create his own more elaborate composition.

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