9597 A pair of Italian, Florentine scagliola panels representing night and day, day with Lucano Bridge, a rural landscape with cattle and the bridge in the background, night with Livorno Port? a scene of fishermen in an inlet with a lighthouse behind.
Attributed to Della Valle brothers. Mounted as low tables in late 2oth century.
Italy, Florence or Livorno
1830
Width: 24.5 ins (62 cms)
Depth: 19.75 ins (50 cms)
Height: 17.75 ins (45 cms)
£6,500
Description
The Della Valle brothers (fl 1835-1880), Pietro and Giuseppe were based in the Tuscan port city of Livorno but with outlets in Florence. Livorno was the largest port in the region and traditionally the destination of travellers and Grand Tourists from the renaissance until the end of the 19th century, where it was the starting point of Italian exploration particularly by the English tourists.
Many panels and table tops by Della Valle still have their original printed paper labels which has allowed identification of the group. Our panels no longer have labels which must have fallen off, but the distinctive oval pictures with flower spandrels in the corners are typical of the firm and can be firmly attributed to them.
Both views, Lucano Bridge, Rome and Livorno Port were popular subjects by Della Valle and were sold as framed panels, but frequently set into bases by the purchasers when back at home.
