Athena Introduces Painting To The Liberal Arts, Early 17th Century Terracotta Model.

An interesting sculptural collector's piece, it is a circular terracotta element executed with the bas-relief technique and probably used as a decorative element in a study or it could have been executed as a model for the execution of a bronze variant, which was widespread between the end of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century, from the workshop of the Augsburg medalist Hans Jacob Bayr. The iconography is taken from an important engraving by Hans Von Achen which deals with the theme of the introduction of the impersonation of painting between the Arts and Sciences, but in this case the classically styled figures are placed in the city of Rome, which is recognizable for a certain topographical quality of the representation. This innovation was introduced by Bayr himself, probably following his trip to Rome, and he applied it to his models, spreading this iconography through bronze medals and roundels. One of these is preserved at the National Gallery in London (https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.76318.html).

The fact that the object is made of terracotta rather than bronze, as is usual to find them, makes it a rare and fascinating piece. Furthermore, the piece differs from all the others known for the frame which follows a classical decorative element with acanthus leaves. The object received restoration over time. The terracotta, in its state and wear of the patina, is consistent with being a piece from the early seventeenth century.

Diameter 25 cm.

We attach a certificate of authenticity to the sale.

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