Terracotta panel, part of a frieze with high-relief decorati - Lot 304

Terracotta panel, part of a frieze with high-relief decoration of a Nereid. Northern Italy, Lombardy, Agostino de'Fondulis, late 15th century H. 42.5 cm - L. 23.5 cm (accidents and missing parts) Pedestal This panel is part of a frieze decorated with Tritons and Nereids that adorned several palaces in Lombardy at the end of the 15th century. This decoration was disseminated in Italy by engravings by Andrea Mantegna, dated 1480 and depicting battles between sea monsters. Fragments of the same type are preserved at the Civiche Raccolte of the Sforza Castle in Milan, formerly the Bossi collection, and at the Museo Civico Ala Ponzone in Cremona (14 in all). Fondulis used his models to decorate the Palazzo Landi in Piacenza. The friezes were a great success, and the model was also used for Palazzo Mozzanica in Lodi and Palazzo Fodri in Cremona (1494). This element bears witness to the original way in which the Lombard nobility decorated palace facades, demonstrating the splendor of the duchy at the end of the 15th century. Book consulted: G. Cilmi, Deux plaques en terre cuite attribuées à Agostino De' Fondulis récemment redécouvertes dans les collections du musée national de Céramique à Sèvres , Revue de la Société des Amis du Musée national de la Céramique, 2017, n° 26 pp 28-35