SECOND OR THIRD QUARTER 18TH CENTURY, PROBABLY ITALIAN

The central medallion with three European figures standing near a terrestrial globe with three European ships in the distance, being presented with an offering in a covered tazza by two figures representing the Americas. Four putti frame this medallion blowing the trade winds, probably representing the four Greek Anemoi (Winds): Boreas, Eurus, Notus and Zephyrus. The frame around the central medallion with eight figures representing aspects of agriculture and hunting, including male figures carrying bows and guns, and female figures with livestock. A profusion of large-scale flora—including roses, peonies, carnations, and tulips, many dwarfing the figures in scale—as well as smaller trees and plants are interspersed along gnarly evergreen vines that delineate each field, with elements probably adapted from the prints of Jean Pillement. The outermost corners with allegories of the Four Continents: at top left, Europe, wears a headpiece of flora and wheat, holds a bouquet of flowers in her right hand with a golden peacock seated at her left; at top right, Asia, wearing a trailing turban and seated di spalla with back to the viewer, holds a lizard, possibly an Asian water monitor, while seated beside a camel; at bottom right, America, with a feathered headpiece, holds a parrot in the right hand parasol in the left hand with a quiver of arrows attached at the waist; and at bottom left, the turbaned figure of Africa holds a monkey under his right arm and a palm tree in his left. Along the outermost sides are more oversized flowers and garlands of fruit, altogether probably an allegory of abundance and fecundity.