Attributed to Bartolomeo Pinelli (1781-1835), Italian, Rome, circa 1815 After the Antique

Overall the condition is good. There is wear to the surface which is consistent with age and handling. Areas of particular wear include Bacchus' proper left thigh, where the gilding is worn, revealing the red ground underneath. There are areas of loss to the gilding, revealing the terracotta below and including an area beside Bacchus' right foot on the base and other small losses scattered across the surface. There are a few areas of black dirt including a mark to Bacchus' drapery, visible in the catalogue photograph, and another to Ariadne's drapery next to her left leg. There is a small pencil mark at Ariadne's stomach. Three fingers are lost to Ariadne's left hand, and the little finger of Bacchus' left hand is also lost.
"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 fine terracotta can be attributed to the Roman Neoclassical sculptor and engraver Bartolomeo Pinelli based on its simililarity to two gilt terracottas of Jupiter and Juno illustrated by González-Palacios (op. cit.) which are both signed and dated 1815. The group is a reduction of a well-known Hellenistic marble now in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston (inv. no. 68.770). Other adaptations of Bacchus and Ariadne were made by Bartolomeo Cavaceppi and Francesco Carradori.

RELATED LITERATURE
R. Roani Villani, 'Scultori tosco-romani e presenze straniere nella Firenze di fine Settecento', G.Venturi and F. Mazzocca (eds.), Antonio Canova. La scultura figurative e letteraria dei grandi centri italiani. 2. Milano, Firenze, Napoli, Bassano del Grappa, 2006, pp. 201-212; A. Gonzáles-Palacios, Il Tempio del Gusto. Le arti decorative in Italia fra classicismi e Barocco, Milan, 1984, p. 179, figs. 339-40