Italian, late 16th/ early 17th century | Inspired by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) | Dragon

Sotheby's London, 13 December 1991, lot 99

This animated dragon has compositional affinities with several drawings of dragons by Leonardo da Vinci, such as those in the Royal Collection: RCIN 912370, RCIN 912363 and RCIN 912331. These drawings seem to have had an extensive influence as is evident from dragons such as the present cast.  Whilst the twisting animated pose of the dragon, being overcome by an imaginary St George, may be inspired by Leonardo’s drawings, the facture of the bronze relates most specifically to casts by the Anglo-Italian 16^th century Francesco Fanelli. Compare, for example, the very fine example of the Fanelli’s St George and the Dragon, sold in these rooms on 8 July 2011, lot 58, in which the dragon has very similar roughly textured skin, clearly defined anatomy and contorted composition.