TOMASSO II
TOMASSO II
After a model attributed to Andrea di Alessandri, called Il Bresciano (fl. 1550-1575)
Satyr
No reserve
Lot Closed
October 19, 02:31 PM GMT
Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
After a model attributed to Andrea di Alessandri, called Il Bresciano (fl. 1550-1575)
Italian, probably 17th century
Satyr
bronze, on a mottled black marble base
bronze: 18 cm., 7⅛in.
base: 12 cm., 4¾ in.
In 2008, Charles Avery attributed the present model to the talented Venetian bronze caster, Andrea Bresciano (op. cit., pp. 241-243). Bresciano is known chiefly for his most ambitious work, the celebrated Paschal candelabrum, which he signed and made between 1563 and 1665 for the church of Santo Spirito in Isola; it is now in Santa Maria della Salute, Venice.
The Satyr is directly inspired by antique sculpture, and, with his pan pipes recalls the mythical satyr Marsyas, who foolishly challenged the god Apollo to a music contest. Avery suggests that the composition may be related to a small statue recorded as having been in the Tribuna of the Uffizi (op. cit., pp. 242-243). Bronzes inspired by such models would have captivated Renaissance humanist collectors, who were preoccupied with the ancient past.
With its refined punching, the present cast is likely to postdate the earlier known casts of the model, including the example sold in these rooms on 10 July 2014 (lot 81).
RELATED LITERATURE
C. Avery, 'Andrea di Bartolomeo di Alessandri detto il Bresciano "lavorator di gettar cose di Bronzo": candelabri, satiri e battenti", in M. Ceriana and V. Avery (eds.), L'industria artistica del bronzo del rinascimento a Venezia e nell'Italia settentrionale, Venice, 2008
The Satyr is directly inspired by antique sculpture, and, with his pan pipes recalls the mythical satyr Marsyas, who foolishly challenged the god Apollo to a music contest. Avery suggests that the composition may be related to a small statue recorded as having been in the Tribuna of the Uffizi (op. cit., pp. 242-243). Bronzes inspired by such models would have captivated Renaissance humanist collectors, who were preoccupied with the ancient past.
With its refined punching, the present cast is likely to postdate the earlier known casts of the model, including the example sold in these rooms on 10 July 2014 (lot 81).
RELATED LITERATURE
C. Avery, 'Andrea di Bartolomeo di Alessandri detto il Bresciano "lavorator di gettar cose di Bronzo": candelabri, satiri e battenti", in M. Ceriana and V. Avery (eds.), L'industria artistica del bronzo del rinascimento a Venezia e nell'Italia settentrionale, Venice, 2008