Italian Ceroplasty, Southern Italy, 17th - 18th century

Height x width with frame: 12 x 17 cm. Weight: 125 g.

of rectangular shape, framed by a wooden frame. In the centre, a dynamic and detailed scene unfolds, depicting two powerful horses pulling a period carriage. One of the horses is ridden by a human figure, dressed in clothing typical of an aristocratic era, with an appearance reminiscent of a noble court warrior, complete with cloak and wide-brimmed hat. The carriage, sumptuously and minutely decorated, carries two women, seated opposite each other, who appear refined and depicted in a moment of conversation or contemplation. The women are elegantly dressed in clothes that express refinement and sophistication, reflecting the style of the time.
Ceroplasty is an artistic technique involving the use of wax to create three-dimensional models, often extraordinarily detailed and realistic. Used since antiquity, it became particularly popular during the Renaissance and in subsequent centuries in both the artistic and scientific fields. It is especially linked to Italian artistic production, particularly in central and southern Italy, between the 17th and 18th centuries. The quality of the figures and scenes, together with their probably central-southern provenance, highlights the influence of the Baroque tradition in the depiction of popular religiosity of the time.