After Tiziano Vecellio, called Titian 18th century

polychrome painted and gilt on marble, mounted in six white painted and gilt architectural frames each containing four portraits, the personification of Rome in a single frame,

In collection of the family of the present owner for several generations

Overall in good condition, most with minor paint and gilt losses and wear, some minor retouches, some staining and white paint/plaster spots, the marble with some chipping • Roma, good condition • Dr Claudius Caesar, some marble chipping at the base • Agrippina Claudii Uxor, some marble chipping at the base • Nero Claudius Caesar, good condition • Statilia Messalina Claudii Neron Ux, a retouched patch of about 2 x 2cm in front of the left eye • C. Julius Caesar, a patch of about 2 x 1cm lost at the mantle knot, some minor paint losses at the mantle, some marble chipping at the base • Calpurnia Julii Caes, some minor paint losses at the bare breast, some marble chipping at the base • D. Oct. Augustus, some paint losses and retouches at the red mantle left side, some marble chipping at the upper left corner and left at base • Livia Drusilia D. Oct. Augustiux, some paint losses and possible retouches at the red mantle lower right and left, some marble chipping at the base and at the left shoulder • Tiberius Caesar, some paint losses/wear and possible retouches at the red mantle left side, a retouche at the upper right corner, some marble chipping at the base • Julia Tiberii Uxor, some minor paint losses at the mantle right side • C. Caesar Caligula, some white paint/plaster spots, lower right corner damaged • Caesonia Caesar Caligulae Uxor, some possible retouches at the mantle right side, some marble chipping at the base • D. Titus Vespasianus, some minor paint losses at the cuirass left side, upper border with a later plaster restoration/overlay, some marble chipping at the base • Martia Fulvia Titi Vespasian Uxor, some paint losses at the mantle right side, some marble chipping at the left top corner • Flavius Domitianus, some minor marble chipping • Domitia Longina Domitiani Uxor, a white paint/plaster spot, some marble chipping at the base • Aullus Vitellius IX, some paint losses and retouches at the red cloak, some marble chipping at the right rim and some marble damages above the head • Petronia Vitellii Prima Uxor IX, some minor paint losses at the red cloak, some marble chipping at the upper rim • D. Vespasianus Augustus, some paint losses and retouches at the red mantle • Flavia Domicilla Vespasiani Uxor, gilding of the name worn, some minor paint losses and retouches at the red cloak • Sergius Balba, some paint losses at the red cloak and at the chin, some marble damages at the lower right and left corner • Lepida Sergii Galbae Uxor, some minor paint losses at the red mantle at the left side and at the eyebrow • M. Silvius Otho, some retouches at the neck and cuirass and some minor paint losses • Alba Terentia Othonis Mater, some minor paint losses at the head scarf and neckerchief For all sales which take place on or after 1 February 2015, please note that the rate of buyer's premium for each lot (charged as a percentage of the hammer price achieved for that lot) has been revised and shall be calculated at the thresholds set out below: Buyer's premium is 25% of the hammer price up to and including £100,000; Buyer's premium is 20% of the hammer price on any amount in excess of £100, 000 up to and including £1,800,000; Buyer's premium is 12% of the hammer price on any amount in excess of £1,800,000. As stated above, the revised thresholds are effective as of 1 February 2015.
"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."

This series of panels is directly derived from a set of 24 prints by Aegidius Sadeler II, of which the 12 portraits of the emperors are engravings after Titian.

The pairs of emperors with their wives are named as follows: C. Julius Caesar with Calpurnia Julii Caesar; D. Oct. Augustus with Livia Drusilia D. Oct. Augustiux; Dr. Claudius Caesar with Agrippina Claudii Uxor; Nero Claudius Caesar with Statilia Messalina  Claudii Neron Ux; Tiberius Caesar with Julia Tiberii Uxor; C. Caesar Caligula with Caesonia Caesar Caligulae Uxor; D. Titus Vespasianus with Martia Fulvia Titi Vespasian Uxor; Flavius Domitianus with Domitia Longina Domitiani Uxor; Aullus Vitellius IX with Petronia Vitellii Prima Uxor IX: D. Vespasianus Augustus with Flavia Domicilla Vespasiani Uxor; and Sergius Balba with Lepida Sergii Galbae Uxor. One pair shows emperor Marcus Silvius Otho with his mother Alba Terentia Othonis Mater.

Titian's original series was painted around 1537-38 for Duke Federigo Gonzaga of Mantua. In 1627-28 the set was sold by the Mantuan government to Charles I of England. They then entered a collection in Spain, were destroyed there in a fire in 1734, and are now known only from Aegidius and Marcus Sadeler's etchings. The Sadelers were a family of Flemish engravers, publishers and print sellers who were active throughout Europe for three generations. They played a dominant role in European graphic art, producing a wide range of high quality work. Although the sources for Sadeler’s portraits of the empresses are lost, it has been proposed that he based them on works by Hans von Aachen (1552-1615) or Bartholomeus Spranger (1546-1611), who like Sadeler, were court artists to Emperor Rudolf II in Prague.

Portrait series showing Roman emperors and empresses were in high demand from the late 17th century onwards, mainly due to the increasing popularity of the ‘Grand Tour’. Of note in this set is the use of marble as a support, which is unusual and seems to have been intended to emphasize the 'all antico' effect of the classical models. The style of these portraits with their opulent use of decorative details and gilding is comparable to the work of the Italian painter and engraver Angelo Guiducci (active in Rome and Austria, 1743 -1779).

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Please note that 5 out of the total 25 panels which constitute this lot will be available for viewing by prospective buyers at Sotheby’s New Bond Street premises.  The remaining 20 panels will remain in their current location outside the United Kingdom where they will be available for viewing by prospective buyers by appointment with Sotheby’s, and for collection by the successful buyer following the sale of the lot.  High resolution images of all the panels are available on Sotheby’s website, sothebys.com. Should you have any queries regarding the sale of this lot please contact Catherine Lynn, Sale Administrator (Catherine.Lynn@sothebys.com or +44 (0) 20 7293 5473).

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