Lot 255: ANDREA LILIO

ANCONA CIRCA 1570 - AFTER 1631 ASCOLI PICENO ALLEGORY OF THE ORSINI FAMILY Pen and brown ink and wash over red and black chalk, heightened with white, within red chalk and pen and brown ink framing lines; bears pencil inscription on the old backing, verso: Possibly late Venetian 304 by 419 mm

Newcastle, 1974, no. 20 (as Circle of Cesare Nebbia); London, 1975, no. 14 (as Circle of Cesare Nebbia ); Newcastle, 1982, no. 12 (as Circle of Cesare Nebbia )

M. Pulini, 'L'antinaturalismo di Andrea Lilio,' Studi di Storia dell'Arte, 12, 2001, p. 65; idem., Andrea Lilio, Milan 2003, p. 217, no. 46, reproduced (cropped image), and p. 230, under no. 7

Brian Westwood; sale, London, Sotheby's, 28 March 1968, lot 15 (as Circle of Cesare Nebbia), purchased by Ralph Holland

This fascinating drawing is preparatory, in reverse, for the print of a very similar size executed by Francesco Villamena, in celebration of the Roman family, the Orsini. There are a number of small differences in detail from the print, but the basic composition is very similar. Six of the most important members of the Orsini family are represented as soldiers: four on the balustrade and two on the central podium. These include: Raimondo, Prince of Taranto (right foreground), and the generals Matteo, Ursino and Primiano; the Emperor Virginio and Paolo, who became Pope Niccolò III (1277-1280) in the left foreground. At the centre is a personification of Glory, seated on a throne, holding a statuette of Victory in the left hand and two laurel wreaths in the right. Above are two allegorical figures with trumpets, spreading the fame of the family, and below are defeated enemies and two prisoners in the immediate foreground. The print does not bear the name of the inventor but the present drawing is clear proof that it was done after Lilio's design. This elaborate composition is typical of the artist's style.