A pair of early C18th studies of ‘heads of apostles’ attributed to Benedetto Luti (Italian,1666 – 1724).
Presented, under glass, in their period carved and gilded frames (wear commensurate with age). Both are inscribed to the original backboards, with corresponding numbers (‘5’ and ‘6’) to both the backboards and the reverse of the pictures themselves.
One of the studies signed also to the reverse in iron gall ink ‘Roma 1712 Benedetto Luti fece’.
Born in Florence on 17 November 1666, Luti trained under Anton Domenico Gabbiani.
He joined the Accademia in 1684 and moved to Rome in 1690 where he was enobled and commissioned by Pope Clemente XI.
From 1704 he was one of the judges of the competitions at the Accademia de San Luca for which he became Principe in 1720.
The studies appear to relate to a series of Heads of Apostles executed c1712, though the series itself depicts the apostles with their books. The signature and date to the reverse of one of the studies is near identical to that on known works by Luti of this period.
Provenance: Purchased privately in North Wales and believed to have been previously bought from a country house sale in the region in the early C20th.
Both pastels have undergone specialist conservation treatment by an expert works on paper conservator. A copy of the accompanying report will be included in the sale.
Price is for the pair
Measurements (including frames): H: 18.25” (46.5cm); W: 16.25” (41.5cm).
