Giuseppe Piamontini (1664 - 1742), Milo of Croton. Italy, Florence, circa 1729

Giuseppe Piamontini (1664 - 1742), Milo of Croton. Italy, Florence, circa 1729. photo Sotheby's

bronze, on later black slate base, light golden brown patina beneath traces of red-gold transluscent varnish and brown lacquer. height 17 1/8 in.; 43.4 cm. Est. 70,000—90,000 USD. Lot Sold 302,500 USD

PROVENANCE: Alex Wengraf, Ltd.

LITERATURE AND REFERENCES: Leithe-Jasper and Wengraf 2004, p. 260; Zikos 2005, figs. 39 and 40, pp. 52 and 54 (illus.)

NOTE: This fine bronze, meticulously chased in Piamontini's characteristic manner, was previously attributed to Philippe Bertrand based on comparisons with his bronzes of male figures with sinuous bodies and detailed surfaces as well as with a nearly identical bronze in the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore attributed to him. Patricia Wengraf (Leithe-Jasper and Wengraf 2004, op.cit, p.260) subsequently suggested an attribution to Piamontini for both the present bronze and the Baltimore bronze, and this view was upheld by Zikos (Zikos,op.cit., p.54).

The two bronzes appear to relate to a marble figure of Milo by Piamontini that he exhibited in 1729 in SS. Annunziata, Florence. The complex composition, the torsion of the body, the emotional intensity of the face together with the individual treatment of the surface and flowing drapery all signify Piamontini's hand.

Milo of Croton was a legendary Greek athlete, renowned for his strength. Upon seeing an oak tree, partially split open by a wedge, he tried to pull it apart but disloged the wedge trapping his hands.

Sotheby's. Important European Terracotta & Bronze Sculpture from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections. 29 Jan 10. New York www.sothebys.com