Lot 230: ATTRIBUTED TO BERNARDO BUONTALENTI

FLORENCE 1531 - 1608 DESIGN FOR A MONUMENTAL CANDLESTICK Black chalk; bears inscription in pen and brown ink: Benvenuti / Cellino and in another hand: 4. 431 by 131 mm

Newcastle, 1964, no. 27 (as Italian School, mid 16th Century); London, 1975, no. 6 (as North Italian School, c. 1535-60)

Sale, London, Christie's, 21 July 1964, lot 180 (as Italian School), purchased by Ralph Holland

Buontalenti was active as an architect and designer for the Medici court. This is a more precise drawing than his vigorous and free architectural studies, but the sketchy treatment of the figures in the roundel at the bottom is found in some of those works.1 The figures and masks show the strong influence of Michelangelo's style. It is possible that the female supporters at the bottom are wearing the diamond in a ring, one of the Medici emblems. 1. Mostra di Disegni di Bernardo Buontalenti, exhib. cat., Uffizi, Gabinetto Disegni e Stampe, 1968, no. 36, fig. 30 and no. 75, fig. 57