Lot 130: Italian, 17th century After a model by Francesco Fanelli (1577-1641) , A bronze group of Nessus and Deianeira

measurements note 19cm., 7½in.

Two different versions of the subject of Nessus and Deianira by Fanelli are known: one, in which Deianira is shown revolting against her abduction, and another one - of which this bronze is an example - in which she has accepted her fate, and even touches Nessus's breast tenderly. A group of 'A Centaur and A Deianira' was first recorded in the inventory of sculptures belonging to George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, at Buckingham House, Chelsea, on 11 May 1635. In the 18th century, George Vertue recorded 'a centaur with a woman' by Fanelli in the Earl of Oxford's collection at Welbeck. Since two different compositions of this subject by Fanelli are known, it is unclear to which of them the description refers in either case.

For its rectangular base and the (separately cast) bow, the present cast appears to be identical with a bronze sold at Sotheby's, New York, on 2 March 1984, lot 92A; and one sold at Christie's, London, on 13 June 2002, lot 187. A similar rectangular terrain base like in the present can also be found in another version, which was formerly with Cyril Humphris (sold Christie's, New York, on 11 January 1996, lot 39), but with a barking hound added.

Further casts of this model include one in the Victoria & Albert Museum (A6-1953), and one in the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto (L971.23.10).

RELATED LITERATURE
U. Berger and V. Krahn, Bronzen der Renaissance und des Barock: Katalog der Sammlung. Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum Braunschweig, Braunschweig, 1994, pp. 135, 138-139, no. 99; P. Wengraf, "Franceso Fanelli & Sons in Italy and London, on a Grander Scale," in European Bronzes from the Quentin Collection, ed. by M. Leithe-Jasper & P. Wengraf, exh. cat. The Frick Collection, New York 2004, p. 33; note 26