LATE 17TH/18TH CENTURY

細節

AN ITALIAN ROYAL IVORY AND GILT-BRONZE RELIEF DEPICTING THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST
LATE 17TH/18TH CENTURY
St John the Baptist with a brass processional cross; both figures with brass halos; in an ebonised wood, fluorspar and gilt-bronze mounted frame; the reverse inscribed '1280', '328.' and further indecipherable inscriptions also with a printed paper label inscribed 'INVENTARIO/1874/...C Napal.../No. 170 M'; repaired break to St John's neck, alterations to the frame
10 x 8.5 in. (25.5 x 21.5 cm.); 18.5 x 17 in. (47 x 43 cm.) the frame

來源

Possibly the Palazzo Reale, Naples.
The collections of the Italian Royal Family.
Umberto II of Italy by whom given to Lord Forte.

注意事項

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

榮譽呈獻

Arne Everwijn

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拍品專文

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.