GIOVANNI FRANCESCO PIERI (c.1698-1773): 'THE MADONNA DEL PASSEGIO' an Italian polychrome wax relief, Naples, circa 1750, after Raphael, depicting the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child about to be embraced by an infant St John the Baptist, with St Joseph in the middle distance against a landscape, later gilt-wood frame and glazing panel 24 x 19cm Giovanni Francesco Pieri specialised in finely modelled polychrome wax reliefs, many after known paintings, as well as producing portrait medallions from which were cast a number of Florentine medals. Born in Tuscany, he worked under Giovacchino Fortini in Florence and came to the attention of the last Medici Grand Duke, Gian Gastone (1671-1737), who appointed him as head of the tapestry manufactory in 1733. Following the Duke's death he left for Naples, to be employed at the royal court by Carlo di Borbone and later Ferdinando IV. Another wax relief of this subject, much damaged and apparently restored in 1799, is held by the Museo Nazionale di San Martino, Naples, Inv.6663, signed by Pieri and dated 1749 in ink to the reverse. Another smaller version, apparently signed and dated 1749, was sold Woolley and Wallis, Salisbury, 9 November 2010, lot 432. Comparative Literature: T. Fittipaldi, Scultura Napoletana del Settecento, Naples, 1980, pp.119-125; E. Pyke, A Biographical Dictionary of Wax Modellers, Oxford, 1973, pp.106/7
GIOVANNI FRANCESCO PIERI (c.1698-1773): 'THE MADONNA DEL PASSEGIO' an Italian polychrome wax relief, Naples, circa 1750, after Raphael, depicting the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child about to be embraced by an infant St John the Baptist, with St Joseph in the middle distance against a landscape, later gilt-wood frame and glazing panel 24 x 19cm Giovanni Francesco Pieri specialised in finely modelled polychrome wax reliefs, many after known paintings, as well as producing portrait medallions from which were cast a number of Florentine medals. Born in Tuscany, he worked under Giovacchino Fortini in Florence and came to the attention of the last Medici Grand Duke, Gian Gastone (1671-1737), who appointed him as head of the tapestry manufactory in 1733. Following the Duke's death he left for Naples, to be employed at the royal court by Carlo di Borbone and later Ferdinando IV. Another wax relief of this subject, much damaged and apparently restored in 1799, is held by the Museo Nazionale di San Martino, Naples, Inv.6663, signed by Pieri and dated 1749 in ink to the reverse. Another smaller version, apparently signed and dated 1749, was sold Woolley and Wallis, Salisbury, 9 November 2010, lot 432. Comparative Literature: T. Fittipaldi, Scultura Napoletana del Settecento, Naples, 1980, pp.119-125; E. Pyke, A Biographical Dictionary of Wax Modellers, Oxford, 1973, pp.106/7
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
