Don Pietro Belloni (Florence 1695 - circa 1760) Italian, Florence, late 17th century

The inventories found on the back of this scagliola plaque are similar to those found on other objects from the Palazzo Pitti sold in several sales during the 19th century, including a wood dish painted with a scene of Diana bathing, with similar inventoy numbers from the Guardaroba of the Palazzo Pitti (see Trinitiy Fine Art, London, 1988, no. 36).

The style of the scagliola 'painting' is identical to that found on other pieces by Belloni, a contemporary and pupil of Enrico Hugford who developed the technique of scagliola decoration in Florence (cf. Massinelli, fig. 105). While the source of this scene is not known, it may derive from views of Turkish life, such as those depicted by Jacopo Ligozzi, whose designs were widely used in Florence in pietra dura and scagliola decoration.

RELATED LITERATURE

A-M. Massinelli, Scagliola l'arte della pittura di luna, Rome 1997, p. 165, fig. 105