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Lot Essay
The overall disposition of the two ivory figures in this relief, as well as the treatment of the drapery with its thick folds, suggests that the author was familiar with Alessandro Algardi's treatment of the same subject. Algardi, who, along with Gianlorenzo Bernini and Francois Duquesnoy was one of the most important sculptors of baroque Rome, modelled a group of the Baptism of Christ in terracotta which is now in the Vatican Library. It was subsequently elaborated upon and cast in bronze; an example of one such cast was sold Christie's London, 2 June 1964, lot 66 and is now in the Cleveland Museum of Art. For a discussion of the composition by Algardi see J. Montagu, Alessandro Algardi, New Haven and London, 1985, II, pp. 311-315, figs 66-67 .
Whilst the inventory to which the inscription to the reverse of the present lot relates has not been traced it is probable it relates to an inventory of the contents of Palazzo Reale, Naples which was one of Vittorio Emanuele II of Italy's official residences following the unification of Italy in 1861.
Whilst the inventory to which the inscription to the reverse of the present lot relates has not been traced it is probable it relates to an inventory of the contents of Palazzo Reale, Naples which was one of Vittorio Emanuele II of Italy's official residences following the unification of Italy in 1861.