Luigi Righetti's workshop.
Colonnade.
Gilded bronze and verde antico, giallo antico, brecchi pontifica, and white Carrara marbles, slate background.
Rome, last quarter of the 18th century.
H. 55 - L. 42 - D. 18 cm.
This colonnade takes the form of a miniature temple portico. The different types of marble that make up the colonnade were all used in Antiquity, reinforcing the reference to the period and adding a touch of preciousness. Gilded bronzes adorn the bases of the columns with laurel wreaths, and the Corinthian capitals are finely chiselled with abundant detail. The two outer columns are set slightly forward, following the recess at the top of the pediment.
This ornament, which must therefore have been part of an important table centrepiece, is reminiscent of the work of Luigi Righetti, whose designs feature the same combination of precious marble and rich ormolu decoration.
