237
Follower of Severo da Ravenna (Italian, c. 1465/75-before 1538), "A Pair of Nude Male Figures
Description
Follower of Severo da Ravenna (Italian, c. 1465/75-before 1538), "A Pair of Nude Male Figures Supporting Inkwells", probably mid-16th c., bronze statuettes with russet alloys, chestnut patinas, and black lacquers, heights 6 1/2 in., on variegated black marble plinths.
Provenance: Collection of a Gentleman, purchased 1968 from Manheim Antique Galleries (in B.H. Latrobe`s Louisiana State Bank Building), corner of Royal and Conti Streets, New Orleans.
Note: Severo di Domenico Calzetta, known from the city of his birth and death as Severo da Ravenna, where he was enrolled as a Master in 1496 (though his principal works were executed in Padua, from 1500 to 1511), is an exceptional artist who was particularly celebrated in the writings of the Paduan humanist Pomponio Gaurico—especially in his treatise De Sculptura (1504)—but was subsequently forgotten, and only "rediscovered" in the 20th century. Over the last fifty years Severo has been acknowledged as one of the most inventive and prolific of all Renaissance bronzecasters: something approaching 200 casts, of at least 35 or 40 different small bronze designs, have been recognized as issuing from his shop. Even within such an enormous oeuvre, the present figures may well represent a yet-unidentified model: their closest counterparts are apparently the three similarly sized and posed Male Nudes on the topmost of the six figural registers of a colossal Bronze Candlestick in the Fine Art Museums of San Francisco (61.35), in which trios of similar and larger figures (with upraised arms) support the successive platforms and of which the Female Nudes on the bottom tier are also idiosyncratic variants of Severo`s Cleopatra. The possibility that these remarkably handsome figures may in fact derive from such a source, is reinforced (first) by their highly unusual preservation in the form of an exact pair, probably confirming their derivation from just such a multi-figured utensil; and (second) by the fact that their absolutely standard Severan inkwells—life casts from a real seashell, such as that of the galeodea echinophora of Linnaeus—are here present in the form of aftercasts (implying their replication from other, identical specimens closer to the natural models). These shell-inkwells are each attached to their figures` backs by two early screws: one above their shoulders, and with a second, running diagonally (and most unusually) into the backs of their heads.
References: Anthony F. Radcliffe, "Replicas, Copies and Counterfeits of Early Italian Bronzes," Apollo 1986, pp. 184-185, fig. 4 (for the San Francisco Candlestick); Richard E. Stone, "Severo Calzetta da Ravenna and the indirectly cast bronze," Burlington Magazine, vol. 48 (Dec. 2006), pp. 810-819; Dylan Smith, "I bronzi di Severo da Ravenna: un approccio tecnologico per la cronologia," in L`Industria Artistica del Bronzo del Rinascimento, M. Ceriano e V. Avery, eds., Verona, 2008, pp.49-80 (esp. p. 77, note 75, on the Candlestick again). We are particularly grateful to Dr. Charles Avery for calling that artifact to our attention (private communication).
Auction Details
Shipping
T&Cs & Important Info
Follower of Severo da Ravenna (Italian, c. 1465/75-before 1538), "A Pair of Nude Male Figures Supporting Inkwells", probably mid-16th c., bronze statuettes with russet alloys, chestnut patinas, and black lacquers, heights 6 1/2 in., on variegated black marble plinths.
Provenance: Collection of a Gentleman, purchased 1968 from Manheim Antique Galleries (in B.H. Latrobe`s Louisiana State Bank Building), corner of Royal and Conti Streets, New Orleans.
Note: Severo di Domenico Calzetta, known from the city of his birth and death as Severo da Ravenna, where he was enrolled as a Master in 1496 (though his principal works were executed in Padua, from 1500 to 1511), is an exceptional artist who was particularly celebrated in the writings of the Paduan humanist Pomponio Gaurico—especially in his treatise De Sculptura (1504)—but was subsequently forgotten, and only "rediscovered" in the 20th century. Over the last fifty years Severo has been acknowledged as one of the most inventive and prolific of all Renaissance bronzecasters: something approaching 200 casts, of at least 35 or 40 different small bronze designs, have been recognized as issuing from his shop. Even within such an enormous oeuvre, the present figures may well represent a yet-unidentified model: their closest counterparts are apparently the three similarly sized and posed Male Nudes on the topmost of the six figural registers of a colossal Bronze Candlestick in the Fine Art Museums of San Francisco (61.35), in which trios of similar and larger figures (with upraised arms) support the successive platforms and of which the Female Nudes on the bottom tier are also idiosyncratic variants of Severo`s Cleopatra. The possibility that these remarkably handsome figures may in fact derive from such a source, is reinforced (first) by their highly unusual preservation in the form of an exact pair, probably confirming their derivation from just such a multi-figured utensil; and (second) by the fact that their absolutely standard Severan inkwells—life casts from a real seashell, such as that of the galeodea echinophora of Linnaeus—are here present in the form of aftercasts (implying their replication from other, identical specimens closer to the natural models). These shell-inkwells are each attached to their figures` backs by two early screws: one above their shoulders, and with a second, running diagonally (and most unusually) into the backs of their heads.
References: Anthony F. Radcliffe, "Replicas, Copies and Counterfeits of Early Italian Bronzes," Apollo 1986, pp. 184-185, fig. 4 (for the San Francisco Candlestick); Richard E. Stone, "Severo Calzetta da Ravenna and the indirectly cast bronze," Burlington Magazine, vol. 48 (Dec. 2006), pp. 810-819; Dylan Smith, "I bronzi di Severo da Ravenna: un approccio tecnologico per la cronologia," in L`Industria Artistica del Bronzo del Rinascimento, M. Ceriano e V. Avery, eds., Verona, 2008, pp.49-80 (esp. p. 77, note 75, on the Candlestick again). We are particularly grateful to Dr. Charles Avery for calling that artifact to our attention (private communication).
Two Day Winter Estates Auction - Day 1 at 4038 Magazine Street - Day 2 at 3923 Carondelet Street
Sale Date(s)
Venue Address
4038 Magazine Street
New Orleans
Louisiana
70115
United States
For Neal Auction Company delivery information please telephone +1 5048995329.
Important Information
The successful bidder agrees to pay a buyers premium in the amount of 22% of the hammer price on each lot up to and including $200,000, plus 10% of the hammer price greater than $200,000. For purchases made by cash, check or wire transfer, the buyers premium shall be discounted 2.5% of this 22%.
All purchases made online are at a buyers premium of 23%.
Shipping: It is the buyers responsibility to arrange and pay for packing & shipping. All buyers must contact a shipping company to make all packing and shipping arrangements within 2 weeks of the auction including pick up, shipping charges, and claims. Please visit a list of shippers at www.nealauction.com/shipping
Payment: NAC will email successful buyers invoices within 3 days from the date of the auction. We accept US DOLLAR payments in the form of: cash, personal check, company check, cashiers check, money orders, wire transfer, Visa, MasterCard and Discover, or American Express. If paying by check, NAC reserves the right to hold all purchases until the check has cleared.
Condition Reports: It is the responsibility of the prospective buyer to inquire as to the condition of a specific lot PRIOR to bidding. All completed condition reports are posted by lot number at www.nealauction.com/crindex.html , condition will NOT be included in the description of the lot. DO NOT BID IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CONDITION REPORT. ALL SALES ARE FINAL. The deadline for Condition Report request submittal is Wednesday by 5pm.
All purchases made online are at a buyers premium of 23%.
Shipping: It is the buyers responsibility to arrange and pay for packing & shipping. All buyers must contact a shipping company to make all packing and shipping arrangements within 2 weeks of the auction including pick up, shipping charges, and claims. Please visit a list of shippers at www.nealauction.com/shipping
Payment: NAC will email successful buyers invoices within 3 days from the date of the auction. We accept US DOLLAR payments in the form of: cash, personal check, company check, cashiers check, money orders, wire transfer, Visa, MasterCard and Discover, or American Express. If paying by check, NAC reserves the right to hold all purchases until the check has cleared.
Condition Reports: It is the responsibility of the prospective buyer to inquire as to the condition of a specific lot PRIOR to bidding. All completed condition reports are posted by lot number at www.nealauction.com/crindex.html , condition will NOT be included in the description of the lot. DO NOT BID IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CONDITION REPORT. ALL SALES ARE FINAL. The deadline for Condition Report request submittal is Wednesday by 5pm.
Terms & Conditions
CONDITIONS OF SALE
Placing a bid at auction constitutes buyer's acceptance of and agreement to these Conditions of Sale.
1. WAIVER OF WARRANTY: All lots are sold "AS IS". No statement regarding condition, kind, value, or quality of a lot, whether made orally at the auction or at any other time, or in writing in this catalogue or elsewhere, shall be construed to be an express or implied warranty, representation, or assumption of liability. Any such warranty is WAIVED. Regarding works of art, Neal Auction Company does not make any express or implied warranty as to authorship. No statement in the catalogue or elsewhere, orally or in writing, shall be construed as an express or implied warranty, representation or limitation of liability as to authorship. Any such warranty is WAIVED.
Buyer agrees and acknowledges that: (a) buyer is not relying on Neal Auction Company's skill or judgment in selecting to purchase any lot; (b) no oral or written statements in the catalogue of Neal Auction Company or elsewhere regarding condition, attribution, kind, quality, value or authorship are the cause of or reason behind buyer's purchase of any lot; (c) buyer would have incurred the purchase of any lot regardless of any oral or written statements about condition, attribution, kind, quality, value, or authorship made in the catalogue or elsewhere; (d) Neal Auction Company did not know and could not have known that condition, attribution, kind, quality, expressed value, or authorship is the cause or reason why buyer decides to purchase any lot; (e) buyer's purchase of any lot is not intended to gratify a nonpecuniary interest; and (f) Neal Auction Company did not know, nor should it have known, that any oral or written statement about a lot in the catalogue or elsewhere would cause a nonpecuniary loss to buyer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing WAIVER OF WARRANTY, agreements and acknowledgements, Neal Auction Company may in its sole discretion, but shall not be obligated to, consider any reasonable request for rescission of a sale on the basis of authenticity of authorship of a work of art under the following terms and conditions only, all of which must be met:
A. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission regarding lots identified by Neal Auction Company by the terms "attributed to," "school of," "manner of," "after," or "signature of."
B. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission regarding any lot unless the buyer notifies Neal Auction Company in writing within a reasonable time from the date of the auction, and returns the lot to Neal Auction Company in the same condition that the lot was in at the time of sale.
C. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission regarding any lot unless the buyer presents to Neal Auction Company a written document signed by a recognized art expert acceptable to Neal Auction Company that the lot in question is a forgery.
D. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission to any person (including but not limited to the original buyer's heirs, legatees, assigns, transferees, or subsequent purchasers) other than the original buyer, and any rights of the original buyer are not transferrable or assignable.
E. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission when: (i) there is a conflict of expert opinion as to the authorship; (ii) expert opinion supported authorship at the time of sale, although expert opinion may have changed after the date of sale; and (iii) scientific processes that were unavailable, expensive or impractical at the time of sale have revealed since the time of sale that the author or period Neal Auction Company believed to be accurate at the time of sale was inaccurate.
F. In any dispute between Neal Auction Company and buyer regarding authorship of a work of art, it is stipulated that rescission of the sale and refund of the price paid shall be the buyer's sole recourse or remedy, if any is available, and Neal Auction Company shall not be responsible or obligated for any damages (including compensatory, general, incidental, exemplary or special damages), non-pecuniary losses, costs, expenses, injury, mental anguish, lost profits, attorney's fees, or any other monetary or injunctive relief.
2. The auctioneer shall have absolute discretion in determining the successful bidder. At the fall of the auctioneer's hammer, title to the offered lot will pass to the bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer. The bidder thereupon assumes full risk and responsibility and will pay full purchase price for the said lot.
3. The auctioneer may decide that any original bid is not commensurate with the value of the article offered, or that any advance thereafter is not of sufficient amount, he may reject the same.
4. The auctioneer reserves the right to withdraw any item at any time before the sale of the item.
5. No merchandise will be released before the end of the auction.
6. If the buyer fails to comply with any of the conditions of sale, Neal Auction Company reserves the right to hold such defaulting buyer liable for the purchase price; to cancel the sale, retaining as liquidated damages any payment made by the buyer; resell the property without reserve at public auction or privately on seven days' notice to the buyer or, take such other actions available by law as deemed necessary or appropriate. If Neal Auction Company resells the property, the original defaulting buyer shall be liable for the payment of any deficiency in the purchase price and all costs and expenses, including warehousing, the expenses of both sales, reasonable attorneys' fees, commissions, incidental damages and all other charges due hereunder.
ABSENTEE/TELEPHONE BIDS
1. All absentee bids and/or telephone bids must be in our gallery by 5 P.M. CST the Friday prior to the auction.
2. All arrangements for bidding should be made as early as possible. Telephone bidding will be taken at the discretion of the Neal Auction Company. Each item must have a low estimate of $500.
3. We assume no responsibility for failure to execute bids for any reason whatsoever.
4. We reserve the right to require that advance bids be accompanied by a 25% deposit.
PAYMENT
1 The successful bidder agrees to pay a buyer's premium in the amount of 20% of the hammer price on each lot up to and including $200,000, plus 10% of the hammer price greater than $200,000. For purchases made by cash, check or wire transfer, the buyer's premium shall be discounted 2.5% of this 20%.
2. Unless exempt by law, the purchaser will be required to pay Louisiana and local taxes, and, if applicable, any federal luxury or other tax, on the total purchase price.
3. Documentation of tax exemption must be provided upon registration.
4. Payment in full must be made by the successful bidder within ten days of the auction date. Interest charges will apply to invoices paid after this period expires. We reserve the right to require payment in full of the sales price at the moment of the successful bid.
5. VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express are accepted for invoices up to $25,000 per customer.
LIVE INTERNET BIDDING
Live internet bidding is available through Live Auctioneers and The Saleroom at a buyer's premium in the amount of 23% of the hammer price. See www.liveauctioneers.com and www.the-saleroom.com
TERMS
Any customer not accredited by Neal Auction Company must present a letter of reference from their bank or other suitable source acceptable to Neal Auction Company. Neal Auction Company requests that the merchandise be held on premises until the check clears or money can be wired into the Neal Auction Company account.
SHIPPING
We will assist buyers in making shipping arrangements by furnishing information on packers and shippers. Handling of purchased lots by us is at the risk of the purchaser. Final shipping arrangements and agreements are strictly between the buyer and the shipper.
STORAGE
We will be glad to store certain items purchased at auction until transportation is arranged. Unless other arrangements are made and confirmed in writing, all items must be removed within one week of the auction. On the first business day following that time period, merchandise remaining in the gallery will be turned over to a storage facility. The owner will be responsible for handling and storage costs. Handling costs will be a minimum of $50. Storage rates will carry a minimum charge of $15 per month. For a list of our storage charges by item category, please ask our customer service personnel at the front desk area. All items handled or stored will be at the purchaser's risk. Storage charges are billed monthly and must be paid before merchandise is released. We are not liable for any damage to merchandise after the sale.
See Full Terms And Conditions
Placing a bid at auction constitutes buyer's acceptance of and agreement to these Conditions of Sale.
1. WAIVER OF WARRANTY: All lots are sold "AS IS". No statement regarding condition, kind, value, or quality of a lot, whether made orally at the auction or at any other time, or in writing in this catalogue or elsewhere, shall be construed to be an express or implied warranty, representation, or assumption of liability. Any such warranty is WAIVED. Regarding works of art, Neal Auction Company does not make any express or implied warranty as to authorship. No statement in the catalogue or elsewhere, orally or in writing, shall be construed as an express or implied warranty, representation or limitation of liability as to authorship. Any such warranty is WAIVED.
Buyer agrees and acknowledges that: (a) buyer is not relying on Neal Auction Company's skill or judgment in selecting to purchase any lot; (b) no oral or written statements in the catalogue of Neal Auction Company or elsewhere regarding condition, attribution, kind, quality, value or authorship are the cause of or reason behind buyer's purchase of any lot; (c) buyer would have incurred the purchase of any lot regardless of any oral or written statements about condition, attribution, kind, quality, value, or authorship made in the catalogue or elsewhere; (d) Neal Auction Company did not know and could not have known that condition, attribution, kind, quality, expressed value, or authorship is the cause or reason why buyer decides to purchase any lot; (e) buyer's purchase of any lot is not intended to gratify a nonpecuniary interest; and (f) Neal Auction Company did not know, nor should it have known, that any oral or written statement about a lot in the catalogue or elsewhere would cause a nonpecuniary loss to buyer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing WAIVER OF WARRANTY, agreements and acknowledgements, Neal Auction Company may in its sole discretion, but shall not be obligated to, consider any reasonable request for rescission of a sale on the basis of authenticity of authorship of a work of art under the following terms and conditions only, all of which must be met:
A. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission regarding lots identified by Neal Auction Company by the terms "attributed to," "school of," "manner of," "after," or "signature of."
B. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission regarding any lot unless the buyer notifies Neal Auction Company in writing within a reasonable time from the date of the auction, and returns the lot to Neal Auction Company in the same condition that the lot was in at the time of sale.
C. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission regarding any lot unless the buyer presents to Neal Auction Company a written document signed by a recognized art expert acceptable to Neal Auction Company that the lot in question is a forgery.
D. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission to any person (including but not limited to the original buyer's heirs, legatees, assigns, transferees, or subsequent purchasers) other than the original buyer, and any rights of the original buyer are not transferrable or assignable.
E. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission when: (i) there is a conflict of expert opinion as to the authorship; (ii) expert opinion supported authorship at the time of sale, although expert opinion may have changed after the date of sale; and (iii) scientific processes that were unavailable, expensive or impractical at the time of sale have revealed since the time of sale that the author or period Neal Auction Company believed to be accurate at the time of sale was inaccurate.
F. In any dispute between Neal Auction Company and buyer regarding authorship of a work of art, it is stipulated that rescission of the sale and refund of the price paid shall be the buyer's sole recourse or remedy, if any is available, and Neal Auction Company shall not be responsible or obligated for any damages (including compensatory, general, incidental, exemplary or special damages), non-pecuniary losses, costs, expenses, injury, mental anguish, lost profits, attorney's fees, or any other monetary or injunctive relief.
2. The auctioneer shall have absolute discretion in determining the successful bidder. At the fall of the auctioneer's hammer, title to the offered lot will pass to the bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer. The bidder thereupon assumes full risk and responsibility and will pay full purchase price for the said lot.
3. The auctioneer may decide that any original bid is not commensurate with the value of the article offered, or that any advance thereafter is not of sufficient amount, he may reject the same.
4. The auctioneer reserves the right to withdraw any item at any time before the sale of the item.
5. No merchandise will be released before the end of the auction.
6. If the buyer fails to comply with any of the conditions of sale, Neal Auction Company reserves the right to hold such defaulting buyer liable for the purchase price; to cancel the sale, retaining as liquidated damages any payment made by the buyer; resell the property without reserve at public auction or privately on seven days' notice to the buyer or, take such other actions available by law as deemed necessary or appropriate. If Neal Auction Company resells the property, the original defaulting buyer shall be liable for the payment of any deficiency in the purchase price and all costs and expenses, including warehousing, the expenses of both sales, reasonable attorneys' fees, commissions, incidental damages and all other charges due hereunder.
ABSENTEE/TELEPHONE BIDS
1. All absentee bids and/or telephone bids must be in our gallery by 5 P.M. CST the Friday prior to the auction.
2. All arrangements for bidding should be made as early as possible. Telephone bidding will be taken at the discretion of the Neal Auction Company. Each item must have a low estimate of $500.
3. We assume no responsibility for failure to execute bids for any reason whatsoever.
4. We reserve the right to require that advance bids be accompanied by a 25% deposit.
PAYMENT
1 The successful bidder agrees to pay a buyer's premium in the amount of 20% of the hammer price on each lot up to and including $200,000, plus 10% of the hammer price greater than $200,000. For purchases made by cash, check or wire transfer, the buyer's premium shall be discounted 2.5% of this 20%.
2. Unless exempt by law, the purchaser will be required to pay Louisiana and local taxes, and, if applicable, any federal luxury or other tax, on the total purchase price.
3. Documentation of tax exemption must be provided upon registration.
4. Payment in full must be made by the successful bidder within ten days of the auction date. Interest charges will apply to invoices paid after this period expires. We reserve the right to require payment in full of the sales price at the moment of the successful bid.
5. VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express are accepted for invoices up to $25,000 per customer.
LIVE INTERNET BIDDING
Live internet bidding is available through Live Auctioneers and The Saleroom at a buyer's premium in the amount of 23% of the hammer price. See www.liveauctioneers.com and www.the-saleroom.com
TERMS
Any customer not accredited by Neal Auction Company must present a letter of reference from their bank or other suitable source acceptable to Neal Auction Company. Neal Auction Company requests that the merchandise be held on premises until the check clears or money can be wired into the Neal Auction Company account.
SHIPPING
We will assist buyers in making shipping arrangements by furnishing information on packers and shippers. Handling of purchased lots by us is at the risk of the purchaser. Final shipping arrangements and agreements are strictly between the buyer and the shipper.
STORAGE
We will be glad to store certain items purchased at auction until transportation is arranged. Unless other arrangements are made and confirmed in writing, all items must be removed within one week of the auction. On the first business day following that time period, merchandise remaining in the gallery will be turned over to a storage facility. The owner will be responsible for handling and storage costs. Handling costs will be a minimum of $50. Storage rates will carry a minimum charge of $15 per month. For a list of our storage charges by item category, please ask our customer service personnel at the front desk area. All items handled or stored will be at the purchaser's risk. Storage charges are billed monthly and must be paid before merchandise is released. We are not liable for any damage to merchandise after the sale.
