Relief, wax on glass, a lady, in the style of Antonio Abondio, Italy (Lombardy), 16th century

Coloured wax on glass. Profile bust to the right. The sitter wears a veil, painted on the black glass ground, at the back of her elaborately dressed hair and an earring represented by a seed pearl. The shoulders of her dress are pink, and her high collar is black and gold with a white ruff. The gilded oval metal surround is set in an octagonal frame inlaid with coloured marble.

On the back of the frame is a manuscript label, apparently dating from the first half of the 19th century, which reads: 'Portrait of a great Personage in coloured wax bought at Sir W. Hamilton's Sale 1..2 R.C.'

Salting Bequest.

A statement made at the time of acquisition by Mr S.P. Chamberlain, by whom the relief was sold to Salting, indicates that the relief was originally in another frame with a label recording that it was bought by Sir William Holland at the sale of the Duke of Sussex.

In the syle of Antonio Abondio (ca. 1538-1691).

This wax portrait depicts a lady and is made in the style of Antonio Abondio.
Abondio (1538-1596) and Leone Leoni were the only Italian medallists to be highly successful as court medallists north of the Alps. His eclectic style reflects Italian, German and Netherlandish sources. He was influenced by the Venetian Alessandro Vittoria and earlier by Alfonson Ruspagiari and the school of wax modellers and medallists centered on Reggio Emilia.

A.522-1910