Attributed to Giuseppe Mazzuoli (1644-1725), Italian, early 18th century

with a fragmentary white paper label inscribed: Bassorili ... / 'Ce ... / Cornic .../  G. Anto.. / n.Volter.../ m.Sie... on the reverse of the frame; the back of the terracotta impressed with text from a book:
COLLEGIIS / AG VNIVERSITATI / ADVOCATORVM /  ET /  P...OIVRA...RVM/...

Daniel Katz Ltd., London;
Ribolzzi, Monte Carlo;
Private Collection, Monte Carlo

Overall the condition of the terracotta is good. There is wear and some surface dirt to the surface consistent with age. There is wear to the gilding throughout, some areas of the gilding have probably been refreshed. The reverse shows several restored fissures, including running from the centre of the upper edge to the centre of relief, one running from the bottom right corner to the centre of the relief and one running from the centre of the left side to the centre of the relief. There are some further stable firing fissures. The back of the top right corner has old restoration. Overall the condition of the frame is good. There is some worming consistent with material particularly along the top edge of the back and left side of the reverse and the gilt molding on the front. There is some wear to the paint. There is an iron rod with a loop to the reverse for mounting.
"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."

A bas-relief of the agony in the garden is recorded in an inventory of terracotta sculptures in the Mazzuoli family collection. The mention of "Un basso rilievo di creta rappresentante l'Orazione nel orto, originale di Giuseppe Mazzuoli" was recorded by Butzek in his Pantheon article of 1988. The present, previously unpublished, relief can most probably be identified with that description.

In the drapery and the exceptional low relief details, the present work recalls the various terracotta relief sketches for Mazzuoli's first work, his Dead Christ and the related Lamentation sketches, a version of which is in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. More particularly, the figure of Christ, kneeling before the angel, compares to Mazzuoli's figure of Ambrogio Sansedoni in his relief of The Vision of Blessed Ambrogio Sansedoni in the chapel of the Sansedoni palace, Siena. The pose, with the kneeling Ambrogio with hand outstretched towards his vision, echoes Christ's supplicatory gestures towards the angel. Moreover the position of left leg with the foot partially revealed, the leg wrapped in crumpling drapery and framed by billowing fabric, is repeated in both figures. The angel in the present relief can be compared to a terracotta sketch of an angel by Mazzuoli in the Chigi-Saracini collection. The twisting stance, with the leg bent at the knee, recalls the zigzag lines of the Chigi-Saracini, with the body wrapped in fluctuating Bernini-esque drapery.

RELATED LITERATURE
M. Butzek, 'Die Modellsammlung der Mazzuoli in Siena', in Pantheon, XLVI, 1988, pp. 75-102; G. Gentilini & C. Sisi, La Scultura bozetti in terracotta piccolo marmi e alter sculture dal XIV al XX Secolo, vol. II, cat. Palazzo Chigi Saracini, Siena, 1989, cat. no. 80, pp. 299-301, fig. 185, p. 292