AN ITALIAN ORMOLU-MOUNTED, EBONISED AND PIETRA DURA ALTAR ROME, FIRST HALF 17TH CENTURY
Details
Of architectural form, with broken pediment surmounted by three ormolu figures above a moulded cornice, the central arched panel inset with jasper overpainted with a depiction of the Virgin Mary, flanked by two agate columns with ionic capitals, two scrolling gadrooned pilasters on the sides, the base with central lapis lazuli roundel, on scrolling feet with winged putti masks, decorated throughout with metal mounts 243⁄4 in. (63 cm.) high; 151⁄4 in. (39 cm.) wide; 51⁄2 in. (14 cm.)
Provenance
Anonymous sale; Hampel, Munich, 5 July 2019, lot 192.
Literature
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE: W. Koeppe (ed.), Art of the Royal Court. Treasures in Pietre Dure from the Palaces of Europe, New Haven and London, 2008, pp. 139-141. J. W. Mann, M. Casaburo, Paintings on Stone: Science and the Sacred 1530–1800, exh. cat. Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, 2020, pp. 220-221.
Lot Essay
This precious and beautiful house altar is of jewel-like quality, utilising a number of valuable marbles and stones as well as costly semi-precious stones and gilt-bronze. It is very similar to a comparable house altar with a painted lapis lazuli central panel at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (inv. no. 1556-1856).
Details
Of architectural form, with broken pediment surmounted by three ormolu figures above a moulded cornice, the central arched panel inset with jasper overpainted with a depiction of the Virgin Mary, flanked by two agate columns with ionic capitals, two scrolling gadrooned pilasters on the sides, the base with central lapis lazuli roundel, on scrolling feet with winged putti masks, decorated throughout with metal mounts 243⁄4 in. (63 cm.) high; 151⁄4 in. (39 cm.) wide; 51⁄2 in. (14 cm.)
Provenance
Anonymous sale; Hampel, Munich, 5 July 2019, lot 192.
Literature
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE: W. Koeppe (ed.), Art of the Royal Court. Treasures in Pietre Dure from the Palaces of Europe, New Haven and London, 2008, pp. 139-141. J. W. Mann, M. Casaburo, Paintings on Stone: Science and the Sacred 1530–1800, exh. cat. Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, 2020, pp. 220-221.
Lot Essay
This precious and beautiful house altar is of jewel-like quality, utilising a number of valuable marbles and stones as well as costly semi-precious stones and gilt-bronze. It is very similar to a comparable house altar with a painted lapis lazuli central panel at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (inv. no. 1556-1856).
