Allegory. Tuscan or French school, probably 17th-18th century. Bronze with a transparent greenish patina on a black background.

23 x 21 x 13 cm

This extraordinary bronze statuette represents an allegory that is not easy to interpret.

The figure on the left shows a woman with withered breasts, snakes in her hair and a flaming stick in her right hand.

The figure on the right is a naked man holding a mask removed from the woman's face. In his left hand, he holds a stick, and between his legs, a burning fire.

On the back, on the plinth, there is a French inscription alluding to discord, unfortunately not easy to read as the typographic characters mix and overlap.

In various iconological treatises, see Cartari and Ripa, Envy is depicted as an old woman with sagging breasts and snakes in her hair, devouring a heart. Discord, holding a burning brand in her hand, is similar, as in our case.

Stylistically, this representation harks back to similar compositions from the Tuscan Baroque or Late Baroque school. For example, the treatment of the clod of earth on which the figures stand is reminiscent of Soldani Benzi.

The greenish patina and the French writing suggest France.

A little mystery to be solved.

Bibliography:
Edited by Eike D. Schmidt, Sandro Bellesi, Riccardo Gennaioli, Shaped by Fire, exhibition catalogue, Le Sillabe, Livorno, 2019.