Lot 100: Johann Sporer (1720-1759) South German, active in Rome, circa 1740 After the antique , a pair of fruitwood figures of the Furietti Centaurs

finely carved, each on integrally carved plinth inscribed with original Greek inscription and signed on the back of one IONES SPORER Quantity: 2

measurements note 31cm., 12 ¼in.

Johannes Sporer was born in Sommerach in 1720. He left Southern Germany to study in Rome in 1739 where he remained. Sporer is primarily known for his ivories, examples of which are in the Museo Civico Bologna illustrated by Philippovich. Two groups of Hercules and the Hydra and Apollo with a snake signed Giovanni Sporer fecit Roma Anno 1748 are in the Mecklenburgischen Staatsmuseum Schwerin.

The original marble groups were excavated at Hadrian's Villa in 1736 with engravings published in 1741. It was not until 1765 that they were acquired by the Capitoline Musem.

RELATED LITERATURE
E. von Philippovich, Elfenbein (Munich, reprint 1982), p. 176-178, figs. 148-9; F. Haskell & N. Penny, Taste and the Antique, (New Haven, 1981) p.178