Giovanni Battista Cipriani

Giovan Battista Cipriani (Florence 1727 - 1785 London), Portrait of Giuseppe Baretti (?), pastel on paper, laid down on canvas, 80 x 60 cm, framed This three-quarter-length portrait might depict the well-known writer, poet, and scholar Giuseppe Baretti (Turin 1719–1789 London). There are strong resemblances to the portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds from 1773, who was the sitter’’’’s friend (cf. D. Mannings, Sir Joshua Reynolds, A Complete Catalogue of His Paintings, New Haven-London 2000, vol. I, cat. 107, pp. 72/73, private collection; vol. II, fig. 72). In the present portrait, Baretti seems to be somewhat younger than in the London portrait, which suggests a date around 1766. The attribution of this painting has tentatively been suggested by Prof. Stella Rudolph (written communication, January 2011).

Giovanni Battista Cipriani, R.A. (Florence 1727-1785 London) A bacchante black and red chalk and yellow wash, on paper, unframed 8¾ x 7¼ in. (22.2 x 18.4 cm.); and An unframed black and red chalk drawing of women and children by Francesco Bartolozzi (2) the first, Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 7 June 2001, lot 48. the first, Thomas C. Toppin.

Giovanni Battista Cipriani, R.A. (1727-1785) Studies for statues of pedestals of Apollo, Venus, Bacchus and Ceres, for the Marino Casino, Clontarf, Co. Dublin all with inscriptions 'By Sir W. Chambers for The Earl of Charlemont 1760' (lower left) four pencil, pen and black ink, brown wash, one pencil, pen and black ink, one with watermark Villedary, one with watermark 'GR', one with partial watermark fleur-de-lys 10 x 5¾ in. (25.4 x 14.6 cm.); and smaller (5) These five drawings relate to the four statues that embellish the attic storey of the Marino Casino, that was built for James Caulfeild, 1st Earl of Charlemont (1728-99) by Sir William Chambers, R.A. between 1758 and 1776. Chambers had already conceived the design as an end pavilion for Harewood House, but it was never executed. Built in the grounds of Marino House, which was demolished in 1921, it cost Charlemont £60,000. The Marino Casino was the first neo-classical building in Ireland and has been described as 'one of the most perfect buildings in Europe'. From the outside it appears like a one-storied Greek temple. However it actually comprises three storeys and a basement for servants. The building is based on a Greek cross with Doric colonnades. It is richly decorated with sculptural ornament and decorative carving. Urns and columns are both decorative and functional. The urns serve to hide the chimney pots while the columns hide drains. The entrance façade has a door that rises almost to the height of the columns, camouflaging the second storey. The windows are made of curved glass that reflects the exterior and hides the interior walls. On the north and south façades are steps, on the east and west façades are balastrades. Lions guard each corner. The top floor contains three ornate bedrooms and stairs to an attic. Charlemont met Chambers, along with Cipriani and Vierpyl, in Rome on the Grand Tour. Chambers persuaded Cipriani to come to England. Both men were founder members of the Royal Academy. They worked together on the Casino and on designs for the gold State Coach, commissioned in 1760 for the Coronation of King George III. It appears that the vestibule at one time had a chiaroscuro by Cipriani. Chambers wrote to Lord Charlemont, 1768 'Cipriani and [Joseph] Wilton are both hard at it for your Lordship'. Lord Charlemont brought Vierpyl from Rome in 1756, having employed him to copy 78 antique busts and 22 statues, which Charlemont imported into Ireland. Simon Vierpyl (1725-1810) organised the erection of this lovely temple, and supervised or carved many of the exquisite details including the panels after the antique on the front of the panel supporting the four lions, the four statues of Ceres, Bacchus, Apollo and Venus, to which these drawings relate, and the swagged urn on the plinth on the south front (D. Newman Johnson, 'The Casino at Marino', Irish Arts Review, 1984, p. 22). Three of the drawings in the present group are close to the completed sculptures, the two studies of Venus display some differences from the statue as executed, this is closer to the second, less finished of the two drawings, indicating that Cipriani may have altered his design, possibly at the suggestion of Charlemont.

Giovanni Battista Cipriani, R.A. (Florence 1727-1785 London) Nessus abducting Dejanira signed 'G.B. CIPRIANI. IN. LON.' black chalk, pen and brown ink, brown wash, fragmentary watermark Strasburg lily, oval 10 x 13¼ in. (25.5 x 33.5 cm.) with A. Stein, London, aster Drawings, July 1981, no. 37, pl. 26. Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 4 July 1984, lot 62.

Lot No. 476 description Giovan Battista Cipriani (Florence 1727 – 1785 London) Portrait of Giuseppe Baretti (?), pastel on paper laiddown on canvas, 80 x 60 cm, framed This three-quarter-length portrait maydepict the writer, poet, and scholar GiuseppeBaretti (Turin 1719 – 1789 London). There are striking similaritiesto a portrait from 1773 by Joshua Reynolds, who was hisfriend (comp. D. Mannings, Sir Joshua Reynolds, AComplete Catalogue of His Paintings, New Haven-London2000, vol. I, cat. no. 107, pp.72/73, private collection; vol. II, fig. 72). Inthe present painting, Baretti seems to be somewhat youngerthan in the London portrait, which suggests a date around1766. The attribution has tentatively been suggested by Prof StellaRudolph (written communication, January2011). Specialist: Mark MacDonnell estimate EUR30.000,- to 40.000,- conversion Online Catalogue: Old Master Paintings - 13.04.2011 Old Master Paintings Auction Date: 13.04.2011 - 17:00 Location: Palais Dorotheum Public Viewing: 02.04. - 13.04.2011 Category: Old Master Paintings Absentee bidTelephone bid Watch Terms andconditions Increments Items marked "+" are subject to fulllegal VAT of 20 %, those marked "-" are subject to reducedVAT of 10 %. Items marked “V” (consignment sales) are sold in the name and for the account of theconsigner. Items marked "0" are not liable toVAT. Items marked "*" might be liable to ResaleRoyalties. * Prices shown in currencies other than the currency usedfor the auction (foreign currency information) arestrictly for information only! Items will be sold in local currencyand the final price in any other currency is based on the actualrate of exchange at time of rendering the account. Figuresfor foreign currency information are rounded and based on the up todate rate of exchange of 23.03.2011