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

Supporting vases abundant with bunches of grapes, the present Satyrs reveal themselves as followers of Bacchus, the God of Wine. Their Florentine origin is confirmed by the research carried out by Alvar González-Palacios, who identified a group of carved and giltwood figures of vase holders to which our Satyrs are clearly connected.

They relate to the pair formerly in the Pratolino Villa, close to Florence, and sold by Sotheby’s at the Demidoff sale, 21 April 1969, lot 54 (González-Palacios, op. cit. 1986, vol. II, n. 419, Pl. VII). They may also be compared with the Blackamoors holding a terracotta vase of Guadalajora, in the Palazzo Ginori, Florence.

This attribution is supported by two inventory documents of the Palazzo Pitti dating from 1690 and 1692, which mention similar figures. A third document, dated 1680, speaks of two torchères with figures at Pratolino and paid to the carver Jacopo Maria Foggini (uncle of Giovanni Battista).

A pair of giltwood vase holders in the form of Tritons carved by Francesco Poccetti in 1672 are in the Throne Room and in the Blue Room at Palazzo Pitti, Florence.

RELATED LITERATURE

A. González-Palacios, Il tempio del gusto, Milan, 1986, vol. I, p. 193, Pls. VII-VII; vol. II, nos. 418-420; E. Colle, I Mobili di Palazzo Pitti. Il periodo dei Medini, 1537-1737, Florence, 1997, no. 84, p. 248

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