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Lot description
Magnificent, baroque-style sculptural group in brass, all surfaces with remnants of the silver plating. Swinging his trident directed towards the ground, the bearded sea god Neptune strides ahead on a huge rock, held aloft by the mighty, rising swirls of water, from which dolphins and hippocampi are emerging. Between his legs, a youthful Triton, blowing into a shell, announces the triumph of the god. Neptune's posture is reminiscent of the famous sculpture by Stoldo Lorenzi, which was commissioned by Cosimo I de' Medici and Eleonora di Toledo in the 1560s for one of the most important fountains in the de' Medici's royal Boboli Gardens in Florence. The triumphant Neptune group is flanked by two muscular river deities sitting in highly contorted postures on loosely stippled rocks. Each of the figures on a contoured brass pedestal with volute ornaments to accentuate the corners. All three large rocks signed "E. Avolio". Height of Neptune 52 cm, height of the river deities 31 - 32 cm. Eugenio Avolio (1876 - 1929), Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples, was a famous engraver, silversmith and sculptor. Partly forged in silver, his Italian Baroque-inspired (groups of) figures similar to this one are particularly sought-after. Condition: II +