Live Auction 1886Old Master Paintings
Attributed to Mirabello Cavalori ? 1535-1572 Florence
Lot 23 THE PROPERTY OF A PRIVATE COLLECTOR

Attributed to Mirabello Cavalori ? 1535-1572 Florence

Portrait of Contessina Mattei, bust-length, in a black dress with a white chemisette, a white veil and gold net over her hair

Closed4 October 2007

Price Realised

USD 37,000

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Attributed to Mirabello Cavalori ? 1535-1572 Florence
Portrait of Contessina Mattei, bust-length, in a black dress with a white chemisette, a white veil and gold net over her hair
carved inscription 'CONTESSINE-D.MATTEI-DE/UXORIS IMAGO' (on the reverse)
oil on panel
24½ x 17½ in. 62.2 x 44.5 cm.

Agar Ellis collection.
The Duke of Westminster, Grosvenor House, by 1816, and thence by descent; Christie's, London, 4 July 1924, lot 46, as 'Andrea del Sarto', (340 gns. to Blake).
H. Arthur Steward; Christie's, London, 28 - 29 July 1927, lot 115, as 'Andrea del Sarto', (400 gns. to Dyson).
with Frost & Reed, London.

Specialist note

This captivating portrait of a noblewoman, identified as Contessina Mattei, featured prominently in exhibitions and literature in the nineteenth century, when it was ascribed to Andrea del Sarto. In contemporary documents, Vasari notes Cavalori's success as a portrait painter, a fine example of this talent is evident in his Portrait of a youth (Florence, Museo Bardini). The portraits share a sense of abstraction that is characteristic of the mannerist works of the studiolo painters working for Francesco I de'Medici in the 1560s-70s.

We are grateful to Larry J. Feinberg for suggesting the attribution to Mirabello Cavalori, on the basis of photographs (private communication, 20 July 2007).