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Lot Essay
Considered the pre-eminent mosaicist of the mid-19th century, Michelangelo Barberi was revered internationally for the 'truth of perspective, the rich tone of color and the perfect finish' to be found in the microscopic nuances of his mosaic masterpieces. This rare and remarkable table top is no exception and traces of the artist's genius are apparent throughout; from the tightly-bound crowds depicted in St. Peter's Square and vividly-colored trophy arms to the enchanting vision of the Coliseum bathed in moonlight. Coincidentally, in the same year that Barberi produced the present lot, the artist received the only gold medal awarded to the Papal state for his mosaic table The Beautiful Sky of Italy which he exhibited at the Crystal Palace Exhibition in London of 1851 (The Crystal Palace and its Contents: being an Illustrated Cyclopaedia of the Great Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, London, 1852, p. 207).
In his 1856 book Alcuni Musaici usciti dallo Studio del Cav. Michel'Angelo Barberi, the mosaicist refers to two specific commissions for his composition of 'Chronological Rome' (see inset illustration); one for William Ward, first Earl of Dudley (d. 1860), which is now housed in the Gilbert Collection, and another for 'Viscount Midleton', whose whereabouts is presumably untraced (J. Gabriel, The Gilbert Collection Micromosaics, London, 2000, p. 84, pl. 31).
By the time Barberi published his book, he had actually produced at least four tables for a variety of clientele. The earlier of the two examples, depicting Gregory XVI and centered with a sparsely-populated view of St. Peter's Square, was purchased by Robert Frederick Brownlow Rushbrooke (d. 1870) while on the Grand Tour, as suggested in the 21 January 2004 sale of Peter Jermyn Rushbooke's estate at Dreweatt-Neate, England. The Rushbrooke table was subsequently sold at Christie's, New York, 17 May 2006, lot 185 as part of the inventory of Partridge Fine Arts of London ($520,000). The second table neglected by Barberi was an example of nearly identical composition as the present lot, depicting the Papal inauguration of Pope Pius IX among throngs of spectators in St. Peter's Square. Presumed to be purchased by Tsar Nicholas I (d. 1855), who was an avid supporter of Barberi's work, the table is now housed in the permanent collection at The Hermitage, Russia. Why Barberi failed to mention two prominent commissions remains unknown, though Jeanette Hanisee Gabriel suspects poor record-keeping contributed to confusion of his various commissions.
It is almost certain that the previously untraced table commissioned for Viscount Midleton is one and same as the present lot acquired by Bernard Castro in 1958. In a possible lapse of record-keeping, Barberi does not say which Viscount Midleton ordered the elaborate table. It would certainly not have been commissioned by George Alan Brodrick, the fifth Viscount Midleton (d.1848), who was described as 'an eccentric man, and of a very wayward disposition' and had taken his own life in 1848 on account of his wife leaving him. Charles Brodrick succeeded him as the sixth Viscount Midleton (d. 1863) and in all likelihood purchased the table for his collection at Peper Harow in Surrey. The estate at Peper Harow eventually passed to George St. John Brodrick, 2nd Earl of Midleton, who died in 1979, though the manor house and remaining other contents were sold in 1944, including a selection of Old Master paintings which were offered at Christie's, London, 26 October 1945. Though the present table does not appear among the painting inventories, it is very likely that Stanton D. Sanson of Miami, Florida, from whom Bernard Castro acquired the table, had purchased it in an unpublished estate auction or by private treaty during travels abroad.
In his 1856 book Alcuni Musaici usciti dallo Studio del Cav. Michel'Angelo Barberi, the mosaicist refers to two specific commissions for his composition of 'Chronological Rome' (see inset illustration); one for William Ward, first Earl of Dudley (d. 1860), which is now housed in the Gilbert Collection, and another for 'Viscount Midleton', whose whereabouts is presumably untraced (J. Gabriel, The Gilbert Collection Micromosaics, London, 2000, p. 84, pl. 31).
By the time Barberi published his book, he had actually produced at least four tables for a variety of clientele. The earlier of the two examples, depicting Gregory XVI and centered with a sparsely-populated view of St. Peter's Square, was purchased by Robert Frederick Brownlow Rushbrooke (d. 1870) while on the Grand Tour, as suggested in the 21 January 2004 sale of Peter Jermyn Rushbooke's estate at Dreweatt-Neate, England. The Rushbrooke table was subsequently sold at Christie's, New York, 17 May 2006, lot 185 as part of the inventory of Partridge Fine Arts of London ($520,000). The second table neglected by Barberi was an example of nearly identical composition as the present lot, depicting the Papal inauguration of Pope Pius IX among throngs of spectators in St. Peter's Square. Presumed to be purchased by Tsar Nicholas I (d. 1855), who was an avid supporter of Barberi's work, the table is now housed in the permanent collection at The Hermitage, Russia. Why Barberi failed to mention two prominent commissions remains unknown, though Jeanette Hanisee Gabriel suspects poor record-keeping contributed to confusion of his various commissions.
It is almost certain that the previously untraced table commissioned for Viscount Midleton is one and same as the present lot acquired by Bernard Castro in 1958. In a possible lapse of record-keeping, Barberi does not say which Viscount Midleton ordered the elaborate table. It would certainly not have been commissioned by George Alan Brodrick, the fifth Viscount Midleton (d.1848), who was described as 'an eccentric man, and of a very wayward disposition' and had taken his own life in 1848 on account of his wife leaving him. Charles Brodrick succeeded him as the sixth Viscount Midleton (d. 1863) and in all likelihood purchased the table for his collection at Peper Harow in Surrey. The estate at Peper Harow eventually passed to George St. John Brodrick, 2nd Earl of Midleton, who died in 1979, though the manor house and remaining other contents were sold in 1944, including a selection of Old Master paintings which were offered at Christie's, London, 26 October 1945. Though the present table does not appear among the painting inventories, it is very likely that Stanton D. Sanson of Miami, Florida, from whom Bernard Castro acquired the table, had purchased it in an unpublished estate auction or by private treaty during travels abroad.