"Pair Of Benches From Villa Suvera With Coat Of Arms Of The Lucchesi Palli Family, Siena, 1847"
Extraordinary pair of benches painted in grisaille technique based on motifs from Greek Antiquity with the coat of arms of the Lucchesi Palli Family. The files are decorated on three sides. In the center, two representations of Pegasus flank the coat of arms of the family that owned Villa Suvera. In addition, mythical representations from Greek Antiquity enrich these paintings. The backs are tight with matching grisaille paintings on canvas. The benches have a swivel base and are marked "Apollo" and "Mercurio" and dated on the front panel: 1847. According to our information they were made for a large family celebration at that time. Siena dated 1847. According to recent research and the kind indications of doctor Victor Veronesi, it seems that the origin of the manufacture of the two benches dates back to the long preparation for the marriage of Carlo (X), Carlo Alberto Massimo Prince of Arsoli (Rome 3.12.1836 - 21.1.1921) and Donna Francesca Romana Lucchesi Palli (Graz-Brunsee? 12.10.1836 - Rome 10.5.1923) in 1860. Donna Francesca Lucchesi Palli was the daughter of Count Ettore Lucchesi Palli, Duke of Grazia (Palermo, 2.10.1806 - Brunsee, 1.4.1864) and Maria Carolina Ferdinanda Luisa princess of Bourbon two Sicilies (Naples 5.11.1798 - Brunsee 17.4.1870). Thus, the two benches become an important Italian period document, probably created on the occasion of this marriage. It is not unusual for preparations to begin several years before such an important family event and for the equipment and layout of the venue to have already been undertaken. There are all the details available