Design for a ceiling with the apotheosis of the house of Wittelsbach

A preparatory drawing for Carlone's painting in the Gartensaal at Schloss Augustusburg at Brühl, one of several ceiling decorations commissioned for the castle from the artist by Clemens August, Elector of Bavaria (1700-1761) in the years around 1750. The central figure of the enthroned youth, who is being offered a crown by the kneeling figure of Justice, represents the House of Wittelsbach. He is flanked by figures representing the Church and martial virtue, on the right, and by Apollo as the patron of the Arts, on the left. On the top of the throne is Clement August's personal monogram of two interlaced Cs. The finished painting, which was probably executed by Carlone after he had finished the decorations of the Treppenhaus for Clement August in 1749, shows minor differences from the drawing, such as the replacement of the Elector's monogram with a profile portrait of Clement August himself.

For a note on the collector, please see lot 163.