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Lot Essay
The present wall lights are closely related to a mid-18th century design for three sconces with tree branch ornamentation by Giovanni Battista Piranesi (Pierpont Morgan Library of Drawings and Prints, accession no. 1966.11:106; A. González-Palacios, Il Tempio del Gusto, vol. II, Milan, 1986, p. 123, fig. 263). They are virtually identical to a set of wall lights, originally part of the Tullio Fossati Bellani collection in Milan (V. Peria, Arte e Decorazione nelle casa Italiana, Milan, 1967, p. 52, fig. 1). Pairs of this model sold Sotheby's, London, 13 December 1991, lot 98 (£46,200 inc. premium) and 10 June 1999, lot 120. Another pair, additionally adorned with realistically cast flowers, foliage and acorns, was offered Sotheby's, London, 8 June 2005, lot 15.
These wall lights recall the oeuvre of Francesco Ladatte (1706-1787), court bronze sculptor to Carlo Emanuele III, King of Sardinia. Ladatte's production is rare and most of the known works remain conserved in the Palazzo Reale in Turin; several comparable large sets of rocaille wall-lights are recorded in the Galleria del Daniel (V. Viale, Mostra del Barocco Piemontese, exhibition catalogue, 1963, pl. 299 and pl. 300).
These wall lights recall the oeuvre of Francesco Ladatte (1706-1787), court bronze sculptor to Carlo Emanuele III, King of Sardinia. Ladatte's production is rare and most of the known works remain conserved in the Palazzo Reale in Turin; several comparable large sets of rocaille wall-lights are recorded in the Galleria del Daniel (V. Viale, Mostra del Barocco Piemontese, exhibition catalogue, 1963, pl. 299 and pl. 300).