Italian, Veneto, late 17th/ early 18th century

each with an old paper label inscribed in ink: 5192 and Hercules with an old white label printed: 39

Gianni Versace (1946-1997);
Sold in his sale Sotheby's London, 18th March 2009, lot 142

Overall the condition of the roundels is good with dirt and wear to the surfaces consistent with age. There are minor chips and scratches to the edges of the roundels, bodies and ears. The roundels have been outside and there is weathering, with some loss of surface detail. They were cleaned subsequently. There is naturally occurring veining to both. In the Alexander roundel there is a slightly green vein running diagonally across the roundel, through the face. In the Hercules roundel some veining is a darker colour and there is a slightly green tint to the surface, possibly due to veining or merely dirt. There are also two stable slightly open veins to the top left. There are old mount holes to the reverse of both roundels, filled with lead to a greater or lesser extent. In the Hercules roundel, there are small losses around the mount. The metal mounts are in good condition with minor dirt and wear and oxidization to the surfaces.
"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 present reliefs compare stylistically and conceptually with classicizing profile reliefs of male and female figures by Orazio Marinali (1643-1720) and Giovanni Bonazza (c. 1654-1736), who were active in the area around Venice in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Compare particularly with the pair of reliefs of a young man and a young woman by Marinali in the Zeri collection (Bacchi, op. cit. nos. 479-480) and the oval reliefs of men and women by Bonazza in the Palazzo Nani, San Trovaso (Guerriero, op. cit. pp. 140-141, figs. 70-77.) The stylised, curly hair of the present figures is very similar to that seen in these reliefs, whilst the princely fillet in Alexander's hair can be found in a number of the aforementioned reliefs of male figures.

RELATED LITERATURE
S. Guerriero, 'Le alterne fortune dei marmi: busti, teste di carattere e altre "scolture moderne" nelle collezioni veneziane tra sei e settecento,' in G. Pavanello (ed.), La scultura veneta del seicento e del settecento. Nuovi Studi, Venice, 2002, figs. 70-77, pp. 140-141; A. Bracchi (ed.), La scultura a venezia da Sanovino a Canova, Vol. 2, Milan, 2000, nos. 479-480