30th May, 2022 10:00

The Expert Eye

 
  Lot 39
 

A FINE ROMAN MICROMOSAIC PANEL DEPICTING ST PETER'S, ROME, SECOND HALF 19TH CENTURY

A FINE ROMAN MICROMOSAIC PANEL DEPICTING ST PETER'S, ROME, SECOND HALF 19TH CENTURY

the horizontal oval depicting St Peter's Basilica and Square, bordered on two sides by curved collonades with central obelisk between two fountains, groups of figures gathered in the square, the fine tesserae reserve set within a black marble ground with lapis lazuli border, mounted in a giltwood and gesso frame,

the micromosaic 32cm wide x 23cm high, the frame 46.5cm wide x 37cm high.

Auction Comparable: See Sotheby's, New York, 6 June 2014, lot 147 for a comparable micromosaic of the same subject, featuring an identical geometric border but in malachite rather than lapis lazuli, attributed to the Vatican mosaic workshops (The Studio del Mosaico Vaticano).

Literature: The Gilbert Collection, Micromosaics, Jeanette Hanisee Gabriel, pub. Philip Wilson p. 160 for similar example.

The Vatican micromosaic workshop was originally founded in the late 16th century to provide the mosaics to decorate the basilica of Saint Peters; but continued to produce micromosaics for the open market for centuries after. Many artists employed in the workshop later went on to open their own premises, and the market for micromosaics flourished throughout the 19th century. Numerous micromosaic depictions of St Peter's Square were produced during the period due to its popularity as a tourist attraction. The Basilica was begun in 1506 by Bramante (1444 - 1514) and later modified by Michelangelo (1475 - 1564) who designed the dome, completed by Maderno in around 1606. The colonnade was added by Bernini in 1657 along with the fountains by Maderno and Bernini, the central obelisk was originally in the Circus of Nero (AD 54- 68).

Sold for £4,250

Includes Buyer's Premium


 

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