North Italian, 16th century

There is dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There are various restored breaks particularly to the figurative frieze, but also to the frame, mostly running horizontally from the top to the bottom. There are various glue residues to the breaks on the right hand side of the relief. The frame is probably original. There are a few small chips and abrasions in particular to the edges and corners of the frame. Otherwise the condition is stable.
"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 intriguing relief is closely reminiscent of the battle scenes which often appear on the sides of Ancient Roman sarcophagi. Compare, for example, with the Roman 3rd-century A.D. sarcophagus showing the battle between Amazons and Greeks, Centaurs and Lapiths in the British Museum (inv. no. 1846,0831.1). As in the present relief, in these scenes dynamic horsemen rear their horses, whilst the wounded lay fallen on the ground. Sarcophagi proved to be influential sources for Renaissance artists, and it is likely that the present relief was carved in a major centre of the study of the classical past, such as Mantua, where the Gonzaga court possessed an unrivalled collection of antiquities. The famous engraving, the Battle of the Sea Gods by Andrea Mantegna, for example, is believed to have been inspired by Roman sarcophagi (Christiansen, op. cit., p. 59).

RELATED LITERATURE
K. Christiansen, The Genius of Andrea Mantegna, New Haven and London, 2010, p. 59