Ottavio and Nicola Toselli 1695-1777 and 1706-?

inscribed in cartouche on frame: AGELLUM IN ORA JULAE VERSUS THUSCIAM ARATRO SCINDENTE GLANDONE BUBULCO, QUI DE CAVA VOMERE CASU PENETRANT APERTA, PRODIERUNT ANGUES, MISELLUM EX SUBITO IMPETU ITA SUNT ADORTI HOMINEM INURIAM CREDERES AD REFERENDAM PRO EXTURBATA QUIETE, QUID CITO STRANGULASSENT ETIAM, IPSE NISI MISEROS SPISSIMOSQUE PER EDITOS CLAMORES FORTE DEPASCENTES SUPRA COLLEM GRUES IN OPEM ADVOCASSET: QUOT EMINUS IMPETITUM AB ILLIS CONSPICIENTES HOMINEM, EOVE TRUCI VEL MOTAE SPECTACULO, VEL EDULIORUM MEMORES PER EUM CUM ADVENIRENT QUOTANNIS PORRECTORUM, AUT DEMUM UBERI ALLECTAE ESCA FORTEM ADEO ADVERSUS IOLAS INSTITUERUNT PUGNAM, QUOD POSTREMO PIUM EDUCATOREM DE EXICIOSO DISCRIMINE SOSPITEM REDEMISSE, LUMINOSUS DE APOSA IN GRON: VERB: MEMORAB: BONON: AD A.S. 727 TESTIS EST QUO AUCTORE LOCO ITEM GRUARIA NOMEN ADVENISSE CONSTAT.

Heim Gallery, London

Washington, New York, and Cambridge, 1981, no. 42 (illus.)

General surface abrasions and losses. There are restorations and restored breaks throughout, including: a diagonal break from the upper left tree down around the hind-quarters of the oxen to the center ground; another from the upper right area in the head of the crane and down through the ploughman’s tunic and to the ground. There are consolidations or restorations in the trees, the far left vertical edge, the peak in the uppermost section, some of the ground and a patch in the center. The far right crane’s wing is restored and loose. Some losses around the edges. There is minor worming and some age cracks and abrasions to original framework.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

RELATED LITERATURE

Riccòmini 1965, pp. 112-116

This lively relief executed by the Bolognese brothers Nicola and Ottavio Toselli commemorates a miracle which transpired in the year 727, in which a farmer plows over a nest of snakes and is rescued by a flock of cranes.  Although dated six years later, it may have been commissioned on the millenium of the event.  The latin inscription on the frame translates:

As a ploughman by the name of Glando was tilling a small plot of land in the region of Jula, facing Thuscia, some snakes, whose nest had accidentally been torn open by the ploughshare, quite suddenly sprang out and attacked the poor fellow as if to avenge themselves on him for having disturbed their rest.  And they would quickly have choked him to death, too, had he not, by his frequent and pitiful cries, summoned to his aid certain cranes which were, by chance, foraging atop a hill.  Those of the cranes which could see in the distance the man under attack by the snakes, either moved to pity by the spectacle of such an assault, or recalling the food which the ploughman had given them when they came every year or, finally attracted by the tasty morsels, boldly attacked the snakes until, at length, they rescued their grateful caretaker from dire distress.  A splendid eyewitness from Aposa provides a record of this story in the Chronicles of Memorable Accounts in Bologna, in the year of our Saviour 727; and, by his authority, the name attributed to the place is Gruaria.