Lot 263: A late 19th century Florentine pietre-dure rectangular panel, by Giovanni Montelatici

Worked in various contrasting coloured marbles and hardstones with a peasant fisherman, wearing a hat, waistcoat, shirt and breeches, holding a basket of fish picked out in mother-of-pearl to his side, on a water's edge, indistinctly signed 'Giov. Balt. Montelatici', within a grey stone border, s.d., minor losses, 33 x 17cm, in a repainted, reeded and moulded, gilt gesso rectangular frame.

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Giovanni Montelatici is championed as one of the originators of the revival of interest in the technique of pietre dure at the end of the 19th century. He entered into business with his partner Galileo Chini, an artist from Mugello, near Florence in 1898. They exhibited at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle winning a gold medal and their business flourished during the early 20th century. Their work was inspired by the old master subjects of Italy with particular emphasis on domestic and rural scenes.