Live Auction 18366The Collector: European and English 18th and 19th Century Furniture and Works of Art, Silver, Ceramics and Gold Boxes
AN ITALIAN MICROMOSAIC PLAQUE
Lot 107

AN ITALIAN MICROMOSAIC PLAQUE

ATTRIBUTED TO GIACOMO RAFFAELLI (FL. 1753-1836), ROME, CIRCA 1790

Closed15 July 2020

Price Realised

GBP 7,500

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AN ITALIAN MICROMOSAIC PLAQUE
ATTRIBUTED TO GIACOMO RAFFAELLI (FL. 1753-1836), ROME, CIRCA 1790
circular micromosaic plaque depicting a goldfinch on a branch, defending her nest from a snake below, on a sky-blue ground and within a red tesserae border
2 5/8 in. (67 mm.) diam.

Specialist note

The goldfinch is often depicted in Italian renaissance paintings of the Madonna and Child, and so goldfinches were popular subjects among roman mosaicists of the 18th and 19th centuries. The goldfinch represents Christ’s crucifixion. The reason for this association comes from the legend that its red spot was born at the time of the crucifixion. The goldfinch flew down over the head of Christ and was taking a thorn from His crown, when it was splashed with a drop of His blood. For a catalogue note on Giacomo Raffaelli see lot 109.