AN ITALIAN PATINATED BRONZE MODEL OF THE MEDICI VASE, BY BENEDETTO BOSCHETTI, CIRCA 1860

The present vase is modelled after the 1^st century BC marble bell-shaped krater known as the ‘Medici vase’ now in the Uffizi Gallery, Florence, regarded as being among the greatest surviving examples of Ancient Rome. Copies of this vase along with the Borghese vase were produced in a variety of media and sold to Grand Tourists during the 18th and the 19th century.

The Medici vase first appears in the inventory of the Medici collection in ‘pilo did marmot diancho storiato delle historie d’Ifigenia’ in 1598, it was moved to Florence in 1780 and soon after to Uffizi where it has remained ever since, apart from a brief sojourn in Palermo (1800-3) to escape the French. There have been many reproductions and prints of the vase, perhaps the most famous by Stefano della Bella in 1656 and by Piranesi who published it in Vasi, Candelabri, Cippi, sarcofagi, tripodi, lucerne, ed ornamenti antichi, 1778. The subject of the frieze has been traditionally viewed as a mythological scene with the Athenians gathered at Delphi and possibly, the legend of Ipiphigena daughter of Greek king Menelaus, who was willingly sacrificed to Artemis in order to procure fair winds for the Greek fleet’s journey to Troy. The figures of Achilles, Ulysses and Agamemnon have been identified to the right of Iphigena. A related patinated bronze example after the same model and signed by Boschetti was sold at Bonhams San Francisco, 29 October 2012, lot 1241.

Benedetto Boschetti is to date not well documented although some of his works have been identified and his workshop in Via Condotti, no. 74, was listed in 1856, by Bonfigli in the Artistical Directory or Guide to the Studios of The Italian and Foreign Painters and Sculptors, Rome, 1856, which stated, 'The Establishment is particularly conspicuous for its great variety of marble works, bronzes, candelabras, table tops, etc. besides a rich collection of the best mosaics and shell engravings' and Boschetti had 'attained the Prize Medal at the Exhibition in London'. Boschetti is also mentioned in the 1858, 1867 and 1869 editions of Murray's Handbook, p.XXVI, sec. 36.