Lot 477: AFTER GIUSEPPE PIAMONTINI

PARIS, JUNO, AND DIANA

heights 44 in., 45 5/8 in., 44 1/2 in.; 111.6cm, 115.7 cm, 113 cm.

three terracotta figures

late 19th century

Pratesi 1993, nos. 430-431 (for Paris and Diana); Bellesi 2008, p. 25

Heim Gallery, London

This group of three figures was probably made from the moulds of Piamontini's models at the Ginori manufactory, Doccia. A hard-paste porcelain white-glazed figure of Paris circa 1745-1755 is in the Liechtenstein collection, Vienna, and another figure of Juno circa 1745-1755 is in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Thermoluminescence testing dates the present figure of Diana to the second half of the 19th century at earliest. Piamontini's designs are also seen in a group sold at the Casa d'aste Pitti in Florence (Bellesi 2008 op. cit. figs. 16, 18, 19).

The Doccia porcelain manufactory was founded in 1737 by the Marchese Carlo Ginori producing hard-paste porcelain works. Large scale figures, and other sculptures were copied from a collection of bronzes, waxes, and moulds by sculptors such as Soldani and Piamontini in the Marchese's collection.