North Italian, probably Venice, first half 18th century

the reverse inscribed in pencil: 263532... with an old label inscribed in ink: 166  an old label inscribed: 39  and two further old labels each inscribed: M265

Private collection, Austria
Dorotheum Vienna, 6-9 June 1972, lot 814
with Albrecht Neuhaus, Würzburg

There is dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There are a number of restored breaks, including one running through the centre of the relief from left to right and another from the top of the relief at the centre running to the middle left side. The top left corner is reattached. There is a restored split or break at the centre of the relief between two figures. The lower high relief section appears to be separately modelled and attached to the main body of the relief. The woman's proper left thumb and index finger are lost and she may have held an attribute in her right hand. There are chips to the edges and a larger loss to the back low down. There are a few minor firing cracks, including to the bottom.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present relief represents Pyramus and Thisbe, from Ovid's epic poem, Metamorphoses. Pyramus and Thisbe are star-crossed lovers who plan to elope in the woods. Scared off by a lion, Thisbe flees the scene on arrival. When Pyramus happens upon the same lion and Thisbe’s torn clothes he assumes the worst and kills himself; his wound bloodies the white mulberries of a nearby tree.  The relief captures the moment when Thisbe returns to the scene to discover her slain Pyramus. She then too kills herself in despair, and Jupiter ordains that mulberries henceforth should be red in memory of the tragedy.

The scene is one of drama and energy, emphasised by the high relief of the figures with Thisbe’s hands carved completely in the round and her drapery billowing behind her. The sketchy trees and background compare with a series of works depicting tales from the Metamorphoses by Antonio Trentanove, an 18^th century sculptor from Rimini near Venice. His Venus and Adonis is held in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (inv. no. 1977.819) and also shares with the present relief the distorted body positions expressing motion and passion.

RELATED LITERATURE
J. D. Draper and G. Scherf, Playing with fire, European terracotta models 1740-1840, exh. cat. Musée du Louvre, Paris, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York and Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, New York/Paris, 2003, pp. 153-154, no. 66