Late 18th Century, An extraordinary ladies matched pair

We are delighted to offer our spring fine art and antiques sale on March 1st.

We are honoured to be entrusted with many works from the collections of the late Marcello Violante by the trustees of the estate. Highly regarded as an astute and discerning connoisseur, his absence is keenly felt.

There are over 30 paintings relating to the Russian avant grade in Paris from his collection with particular focus on the Ballets Russes as well as the 18th century Italians, represented by a focus on Panini. ‘The lottery at Piazza Montecitorio, Rome’ is one of Panini’s greatest watercolours (lot 100).

The Ballets Russes (originally advertised as Les Ballets Russes de Serge Diaghileff) was founded by the art critic, ballet impresario, and later bourgeois Russian enemy of the state, Sergei Diaghilev. The company was formed in Paris and performed in Europe, North and South America between 1909 and 1929. The company never performed in Russia, in part because of its fundamental opposition in values to those of the Russian power establishment. The name ‘Ballets Russes’ instead refers to the musical and artistic heritage embodied by members of the expatriate community in Paris who participated in the Ballets Russes productions. This community included such illustrious individuals as Igor Stravinsky, Sergei Prokofiev, Vasily Kandinsky, Alexandre Benois, Leon Bakst, and Yury Annenkov. The talent and vision of these participants, under the guiding hand of Diaghilev, attracted the collaboration of Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Frederic Chopin, Claude Debussy, and Coco Chanel. Even a summary glance over the collaborating members of the Ballets Russes productions reveals a dazzling list of the most important 20th century figures in art, fashion, music, and literature. Marcello Violante’s collection of works relating to the Ballets Russes presents a wonderfully rare insight to the diverse and vibrant output of these avant-garde visionaries.

Our furniture section is predominantly from one careful lady owner, mostly bought from Apter-Fredericks. It is of outstanding quality.

Again we thank the Daughters of the Cross for consigning their 16th century Last supper, after Da Vinci. Sold as Da Vinci in the 19th Century, this is a very early copy that has been in such collections as that of Emperor Francis 2nd, Holy Roman Emperor (1768 - 1835).

Finally, one of the rarest, most locally interesting pair of paintings is lot 55; a pair of portraits of Margaret Roper and her husband William Roper with Sir Thomas’ house around the corner between Old Church Street and Milman’s street.

Margaret Roper was the eldest daughter of Sir Thomas More. She is considered to have been one of the most learned women in sixteenth-century England and was a scholar as revered as those male scholars in her society, in spite of the prejudices of her. William Roper’s biography of his father-in-law, Sir Thomas More, is still held in high-regard for its accuracy and clear sense of devotion. These paintings have stayed in the More - Roper family until now.

Viewing and registration February 15th - March 1st at 69 Lower Sloane Street, SW1W 8DA.

The sale is on March 1st at the Wren Rooms, Royal Hospital, Chelsea, SW3 4SR at midday (12 pm GMT).

Doors open at 11:30 pm GMT.

Please email for a complimentary hardcopy catalogue.

Digital catalogue available at www.sloanestreetauctions.com