No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… 显示更多

Francesco Fanelli - The One-eyed Italian Among the bronzes which Alfred and Otto Beit collected there is a group of nine examples (lots 167, 172-175, 184-186 and 191) which modern scholars associate with Francesco Fanelli (fl 1608-?1661), an Italian sculptor who came to work at the court of Charles I of England in the early 17th century. At the time, Fanelli was unknown, and most of these groups were attributed by Bode to Italy in the late 16th century. In fact, close examination of this group reveals that there are at least two different hands responsible for the models, and even more foundries responsible for the casting. Systematic studies of Fanelli began with the publication by John Pope-Hennessy of an essay on the artist in 1953 (op. cit.). In it, he cited two English sources who described how Fanelli, 'the one-eyed Italian', had executed a number of small bronzes for Charles I and the Duke of Newcastle. These were said to be cast 'in brass' and covered with a dark lacquer. The subjects of a number of his compositions were described, and they corresponded perfectly with known examples in English collections or which had appeared on the art market, including both a cupid and a St. George on horseback. Pope-Hennessy illustrated nine models he attributed to Fanelli, and from this nucleus subsequent scholars have attempted to extend the sculptor's oeuvre. Of the Beit bronzes, two of them (the present lot and lot 191) actually appear among the models illustrated by Pope-Hennessy. Two others (lots 173 and 184) can also be confidently attributed to him on the basis of their similarities to this first group of bronzes through both design and facture. Lots 167, 174 and 175 are probably derived from models by Fanelli but are cast later. Finally, lots 185 and 186, though part of a larger group of bronzes which have recently been associated with Fanelli, are actually by another hand altogether, and will be discussed in the notes for those lots.

A BRONZE GROUP OF NESSUS AND DEIANIRA

ATTRIBUTED TO FRANCESCO FANELLI (FL. 1608-?1661), FIRST HALF 17TH CENTURY

细节

A BRONZE GROUP OF NESSUS AND DEIANIRA
ATTRIBUTED TO FRANCESCO FANELLI (FL. 1608-?1661), FIRST HALF 17TH CENTURY
Depicting Nessus rearing and holding the struggling Deianira in his arms; on a parcel-gilt ebonised oval wood base inscribed in red on the reverse with the collection number '208'; dark brown patina with medium brown high points; very minor damages
9 7/8 in. (25 cm.) high; 12 7/8 in. (32.7 cm.) high, overall

来源

Purchased by Alfred Beit (1853-1906) by 1904.
Thence by descent to Lady (Clementine) Beit (1915-2005) by whom donated to the Alfred Beit Foundation in 2005.

出版

W. Bode, The Art Collection of Mr. Alfred Beit at His Residence 26 Park Lane London, Berlin, 1904, as 'Imitator of Giambologna'.
W. Bode, Catalogue of the Collection of Pictures and Bronzes in the Possession of Mr. Otto Beit, London, 1913, p. 107, no. 208, as 'After Gian Bologna'.

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
J. Pope-Hennessy, 'Some Bronze Statuettes by Francesco Fanelli', reprinted in Essays on Italian Sculpture, New York and London, 1968, pp. 166-171.
Cleveland, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Renaissance Bronzes from Ohio Collections, 1975, W. Wixom, no. 151.

注意事项

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.

拍品专文

The present lot represents Nessus the centaur carrying off Deianira, the wife of Hercules. This is one of two treatments of the theme by Fanelli, the other of which shows the heroine sitting passively on the back of her captor (for an example of this latter model see lot 191). Other examples exist in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and the Cleveland Museum of Art (loc. cit.).

For a discussion of all the Fanelli bronzes in the Beit collection please see the pre-lot text on the previous page.