Untitled
probably Salesilo Angelo Pegrassi (Verona 1812 – Verona 1879)
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1849
Materials
Rosa Baveno granite, rosso Verona marble and Tuscan white marble
Place of origin
Verona
Order this imageCollection
Kingston Lacy Estate, Dorset
NT 1257589
Summary
A pair of rosa Baveno granite, rosso Verona marble and Tuscan white marble tables, probably by Salesilo Angelo Pegrassi (Verona 1812 – Verona 1879) c.1849. Each with a rectangular granite top above a narrow frieze with gadrooned edge and raised on twin S scroll carved solid end supports with lions paw feet, The end supports carved with individual designs incorporating shells, ribbons, fruit, insects and animals. Raised on twin triform Verona marble plinths.
Full description
The Italian sculptor, Salesio Pegrassi, was born on 12 November 1812 in Verona.The Veronese painter Giovanni Calieri discovered Pegrassi’s talent in painting and helped him enter the Academy of Fine Arts in Verona where he undertook lessons in sculpture and there forth devoted his life to it. He later become the president of the Academy and many of his works can be seen in Churches in and around the city. As well as Italian commissions, Pegrassi worked for the court of Queen Victoria and under the patronage of William John Bankes (1786-1855). Bankes was exiled in Italy and almost certainly commissioned Pegrassi to make the pair of marble tables at Kingston Lacy, they are probably 'the four table legs with fruits carved by Salesio Pegrassi of Verona' described in 1849 (Dorchester R.O. no..) Bankes had a great love of marble and developed into a generous patron of modern artists and craftsmen. The 'Foglio de Verona' spoke of; 'this liberal Englishman who instead of trafficking in the immortal old works of art of Italy, trains and encourages and commissions for rising artists'. James Weedon (July 2018)
Provenance
Probably commissioned by William John Bankes (1786-1855) for Kingston Lacy whilst in exile in Italy, from Salesilo Angelo Pegrassi (Verona 1812 – Verona 1879) c.1849. Bequest of the estates of Corfe Castle and Kingston Lacy made to the National Trust by Henry John Ralph Bankes (1902-1981). NT ownership commenced from 19th August 1982.
Makers and roles
probably Salesilo Angelo Pegrassi (Verona 1812 – Verona 1879), sculptor