Circle of Orazio Marinali (1643-1720), Italian, Veneto, late 17th/ early 18th century

Overall the condition of the wood and the gilding is very good. There is some wear to the gilding which has revealed a warm reddish ground. There is some minor splitting and minor worming to the wood consistent with age and material. At the front of the figure, the coloured surface has some minor chips on the ends of the drapery and the fingernails of the proper right hand. There is also a minor nick to the nose. The back of the figure has some chips and minor cracks to the hat, edges of the drapery, underside and around what seems to be a rectangular insert.
"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 almost life-sized figure of a standing man wearing a fur hat and a heavy, fur-padded cloak and holding a bundle of fire wood is a personification of winter. It is an extraordinary example of Venetian woodcarving of the late Baroque period. The sharp, parallel folds may be loosely compared with some figures by Orazio Marinali, such as his Saint Mark at the Seminario Patriarcale in Venice. According to its grammatical gender in Latin, and to the superimposition of the year's seasons with the ages of man, winter is shown as an old, long-bearded man.

RELATED LITERATURE
A. Bacchi and S.  Zanuso, La scultura a Venezia da Sansovino a Canova, Milan, 2000, no. 466