Master Sculpture and Works of Art Part II
Master Sculpture and Works of Art Part II
Property from the Estate of Alexis Gregory, sold to Benefit the Alexis Gregory Foundation
Figures Watching a Piper and a Monkey playing a violin
Lot Closed
January 30, 08:46 PM GMT
Estimate
25,000 - 35,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Don Pietro Belloni (Florence 1695 - circa 1760)
Italian, Florence, late 17th century
Figures Watching a Piper and a Monkey playing a violin
scagliola, with giltwood frame
14 1/4 by 16 3/4 in.; 36.2 by 42.5 cm.
The inventories found on the back of this scagliola plaque are similar to those found on other objects from the Palazzo Pitti sold in several sales during the 19th century, including a wood dish painted with a scene of Diana bathing, with similar inventoy numbers from the Guardaroba of the Palazzo Pitti (see Trinitiy Fine Art, London, 1988, no. 36).
The style of the scagliola 'painting' is identical to that found on other pieces by Belloni, a contemporary and pupil of Enrico Hugford who developed the technique of scagliola decoration in Florence (cf. Massinelli, fig. 105). While the source of this scene is not known, it may derive from views of Turkish life, such as those depicted by Jacopo Ligozzi, whose designs were widely used in Florence in pietra dura and scagliola decoration.
RELATED LITERATURE
A-M. Massinelli, Scagliola l'arte della pittura di luna, Rome 1997, p. 165, fig. 105