SEVERO CALZETTA DA RAVENNA'S SCHOOL (Ravenna, 1465-1543), XVII CENTURY.

Satyr holding a candelabra

29 x 16 x 13 cm

Satyrs were very popular characters in Reinaissance’s imagery. They represented a certain classicism, shrewd and sensual, which was well incorporated in the Christian’s absorption and subjugations of pagan myths.

Andrea Briosco, also known as “Riccio”, put chained satyrs in his Easter candelabra of the Basilica del Santo in Padua. He also made many desk-top bronze statuettes (inkwells and candelabra) depicting sitting or standing satyrs.

Artistic storiography from the early 1900s, mostly thanks to Bode and Planiscing, attributed all known bronze satyrs to Briosco, but with research moving forward more foundries emerged, all capable of being credited with the creation of these exquisite tabletop items. Specifically, Desiderio da Firenze and Severo da Ravenna have been credited with many surviving bronze satyrs.

Despite the fact that many Venetian foundries produced these sorts of items until the XVII century and beyond, we should abstain from trying to attribute these bronze statuettes to certain foundries and only try to refer them to general areas and artistic schools, unless we have certified documents demonstrating the provenance.

The design of this satyr has been attributed to Severo da Ravenna’s studio: he is now credited with many bronzes previously thought to be Briosco’s. The relationship between the two is still unclear, but we do know they had a partnership.

Specimens close to our satyr can be found in many museums and private collections, as well as many auctions involving bronze statues of this kind, all of which are always attributed to Severo’s “circle” or “school”, unless the piece can be credited with absolute certainty by prestigious scholars.

Similar designs:
Museo del Palazzo di Venezia, Rome;
Musei Civici, Brescia;
Ca' d'Oro, Venice.

Apparitions in various auctions around the world, in particular: the specimen shown at Ives Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge's collection, auction Christie's, Paris 2009.

Comparative bibliography:
C. Avery, La Spezia, Museo civico Amedeo Lia. Sculture, bronzetti, placchette, medaglie, Cinisello Balsamo 1998;
Pietro Cannata, Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia: sculture in bronzo, Rome 2011.