An Italian micromosaic table top, after Michelangelo Maestri, Rome, circa 1800

Sotheby’s, New York, 16th November 2011, lot 49.

The Italian mosaicist who accomplished this impressive table top managed, with mastery, to replicate the realism and depth of perspective found in paintings. A gouache by the Italian artist Michelangelo Maestri (one sold at Replica Shoes 's New York, 18 April 2008, lot 224) is a match for the central image on the table currently offered. It depicts Cupid holding a laurel victory wreath and a palm frond while riding, triumphant, in a chariot carrying attributes of Roman gods and demigods defeated by Cupid. The central scene is surrounded by an ivy border and four cartouches with depictions of Cupids in a variety of chariots and drawn by swans, butterflies, lions and tortoises, all after known works by Maestri (see examples sold at Replica Shoes ’s, London, 25th November 2015, lot 331 and Replica Shoes ’s, New York, 27th January 2007, lot 501). 

Maestri’s cupid in varying vehicles drawn by exotic creatures are most probably inspired from frescoes discovered at Pompeii and Herculaneum and were also published in 1804-1806 as a series of engravings by Francesco Piranesi (1758-1810) and Tommaso Piroli (1752-1824). 

Another version of the present tabletop, measuring 24 inches and titled ‘Chariot of Love’, was displayed in 1986 at Mosaici Minuti Romani, the first exhibition of micromosaics at the Vatican.  This top still in the collections of the Vatican differs in a few respects from the present table: the wreath lacks the four outer figural cartouches; smoke rises from the athenienne, and there are variations in the foliage. The tesserae depicting grass are laid out in a pattern, and the chariot's fabric is composed of large tesserae which do not convey the subtle drapery effect seen on the present tabletop. However, both tables display a great sense of naturalism and dimensionality, which is seen in curvilinear contours of Cupid's body.