Lot 307: RICCIARDO MEACCI (ITALIAN, B.1856)

RICCIARDO MEACCI (ITALIAN, B.1856)
A HOMAGE TO FLORENCE: THE CORONATION OF FLORA, HER HAND RESTING ON A MARZOCCO, WITH THE DUOMO AND PALAZZO VECCHIO IN THE BACKGROUND
SIGNED 'R.MEACCI' (LOWER RIGHT) AND INSCRIBED 'TESTIMONIUM/TEMPORUM' (CENTRE RIGHT)
PENCIL, WATERCOLOUR AND BODYCOLOUR HEIGHTENED WITH GOLD, UNFRAMED
11¼ X 17¾ IN. (28.5 X 45.1 CM.)

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.
All lots removed to off-site warehouse the day after the sale - 2 weeks free storage
MEACCI'S PICTURE IS A CELEBRATION OF FLORENTINE HISTORY, FILLED WITH SYMBOLS OF THE CITY. THESE INCLUDE THE ROMAN GODDESS OF FLOWERS, FLORA, MORE FAMOUSLY DEPICTED BY SANDRO BOTTICELLI IN HIS PRIMAVERA AND A MARZOCCO, A SEATED LION WITH THE EMBLEM OF FLORENCE RESTING ON ITS PAW. TO THE LEFT OF THE PICTURE A FIGURE CLUTCHES A GOLD STATUE OF COSIMO I DE MEDICI (1519-1574) AND ON THE FAR RIGHT AN EAGLE CLUTCHES A SACK OF WOOL, THE SYMBOL OF THE CALIMALA, THE POWERFUL MERCHANTS GUILD WHO ADMINISTERED THE CHURCH OF SAN MINIATO AL MONTE DURING THE 13TH CENTURY, AND A STATUE OF WHICH RESTS ON THE TOP OF THE BASILICA TO THIS DAY.