LAW Digital catalogue 2020

We are delighted to present a selection of works that touch on a variety of subjects, but which can be defined by the theme of the sacred and the profane.

The allegories of Justice and Peace are represented both by a terracotta bozzetto by Canova’s favourite pupil, Rinaldo Rinaldi (1793-1873) and by two figures in bronze by Francesco Righetti (1748-1819), from models by the Genoese sculptor Francesco Maria Ravaschio (1743-1820). In both these cases the sculptors make use of iconographical attributes to identify their personifications, Rinaldi being the more didactic whilst Ravaschio eschews the usual sword and scales to represent Justice preferring to make use of the Lictors’ fasces.
Sculpture, therefore, plays a dominant role in our presentation and this is further illustrated by another piece worthy of mention, the marble Genius of the Hunt by the Milanese sculptor Pompeo Marchesi (1790-1858), probably commissioned by the Russian noblewoman Julija Samojlova who had a grand passion for hunting art.
Nevertheless, we also have guest appearances by some paintings, such as our Jupiter and Semele, work of one of the most famous names in Bologna in the late 18th century, Gaetano Gandolfi (1734 – 1803). This small canvas, with its fluid but compact brushstrokes, captures the culminating moment in the mythological tale, when Jupiter, astride an eagle, appears before his lover Semele wielding in his hand the thunderbolt which will kill her.

We move away from mythological works with an early 17th century Italo-Flemish Cristo Vivo bronze, with gilt bronze crown of thorns and perizoma, probably intended for private devotion. The fineness of its chiselling and the richness of its colour would be worthy of the most sumptuous of goldsmiths’ production, whilst its expressive strength and pathos invite meditation and prayer.
The marble figure of a Bishop Saint Triumphing over the Devil, by Antonio Raggi (1624-1686), has a provenance which includes the highly acclaimed art historian and collector Maurizio Fagiolo d’Arco (Rome 1939-2002). One of the chief experts of the Baroque period  and the author of important texts on Giovan Lorenzo Bernini, Fagiolo d’Arco was a notable early 20th century historian and connoisseur of Italian figurative arts who, in 1999,  gifted his collection of Baroque art to the Museum of Palazzo Chigi in Ariccia. However, the present sculpture was not part of this donation, but remained instead in his study.

Two downloadable versions: first version – interactive Epub for iOS, second version – PDF for all other operating systems.