A set of six Italian giltwood fauteuils à châssis, Rome, second quarter of 18th century

Palace of the marchese Patrizi Montoro, piazza San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome;

Benucci Collection, Rome.

G. Lizzani, Il mobile romano, Milan, 1970, photography of the cover ; p.XXVII fig XLVII et p.105 fig. 180.

C. E. Rava, La sedia, Milan, 1964

Broggi-Morandi-Poletti, Sedie, poltrone, divani, Novara, 1997.

A. G. Palacios, Il mobile a Roma. Il Settecento, 2025 (to be published).

A triumph of the high Rococo manner, these armchairs display the dramatic sculptural brilliance of the fluid, curvaceous style that dominated Europe in the mid-eighteenth century. Particular flair is demonstrated in the overlapping C-scrolls of the crest, an unusual application of a familiar Rococo motif, and the shell turned sideways on the seat rail, as if swept along by a current or a wave. They were created for the Patrizi family, the Marquesses of Montoro: of Sienese origin, the House of Patrizi settled in Rome in the sixteenth century and since 1642 have resided in the Palazzo Patrizi Montoro, a splendid Roman palace with a notable picture gallery that holds works by Vasari and Guercino. It is likely that these were commissioned after Virigina Patrizi married the Marquess Giovanni Chigi Montoro in 1736. This suite was pictured in situ at the Palazzo Patrizi Montoro on the cover of Goffredo Lizzani’s study on Roman furniture (G. Lizzani, Il Mobile Romano, Milan, 1970).