Unknown

A pair of late 17th century Northern European carved oak angels

circa 1690

A large late 19th century bronze figure of a recumbent greyhound after French animalier sculptor Christophe Fratin (1801-1864), with a warm brown patina on a rouge griotte marble base. Signed 'FRATIN' on collar. Bronze length: 37cm Base length: 41cm Bronze height: 18cm Total height: 22cm Christophe Fratin was born in Metz in France in 1801. He first studied sculpture under Pioche in Metz under whom he honed his technical skills. He then became a pupil of the painter Theodore Gericault in Paris where he pursued his career as a sculptor. Fratin first exhibited at the Paris Salon as early as 1831, where he showed ‘Fermer – An English Thoroughbred’. The popularity of Fratin’s sculpture in England had a significant impact on his career. His modelling style reflected his imaginative mind and sense of humour, particularly in his humorous modelling of bears. Fratin was asked to sculpt life-size monuments for French cities, including his home town of Metz. At the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London he was considered the greatest animalier sculptor of the day. Fratin’s bronzes...

A late 19th century bronze of a hound, seated on a naturalistic base, after Prince Paul Troubetzkoy. Incised to base 'Paolo Troubetzkoy 1893', with a dark brown patina. Born in 1866...

A late 17th c. Italian carved figure of Mermaid, Circle of Filippo Parodi (Genoa, 1630 – July 22, 1702) Dimensions: h. 29.13 in, w. 30.31 in, p. 18.9 in (at the base) Magnificent Italian Baroque sculpture depicting a mermaid seated on the rock. All the virtuosity of the sculptor unfolds in this carved group. The fantastic creature is featured seated, the upper part of the body darting forward, the head looking upwards. Sophisticated hairstyle with rows of pearls intertwined in her hair, her loose locks fly in the wind and bring movement to the whole sculpture. The wide-open eyes with hollowed-out pupils make it possible to follow the mermaid's gaze, towards the sky. The half-open mouth further magnifies this bewitching and seductive attitude. Its long double tail ending in fins wraps on either side of a rocky mound strewn with objects evoking the underwater world: seashells and shells, branches of coral. The ornamental richness combined with the great care taken in its execution make it a work in which the splendor of Italian Baroque art unfolds in such characteristic scenic movement. The composition betrays a strong influence from Filippo Parodi, the leader of Genoese Baroque sculpture, and points to an artist from his circle. Our sculpture was probably part of a decorative monumental palace. The iconographic theme evoking the marine world finds its application in the numerous fountains and artificial grottos, designed in Italian palaces at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries. Giacomo Filippo Parodi (Genoa 1630 – July 22, 1702) was an Italian Baroque sculptor of the Genoese school, who introduced Bernini's aesthetic to Genoa. In his youth fathers a first apprenticeship with a carpenter, he went to Rome where he became a pupil of Bernini. He had the opportunity to admire in person the works and style of the French sculptor Pierre Puget...

Polychrome wax relief on chalkboard, 20 x 15 cm; with ebony and tortoiseshell frame, 28 x 23 cm The scene depicts Mary Magdalene in the center, seated on a rock with a handkerchief i...