Valerio Belli, The Apotheosis of Scipio, bronze oval plaquette, the Roman general Scipio Africanus standing on plinth flanked by six figures; signed below, VALE VI F, 53 x 42.2mm (Molinier 311; Bange 783; Gasparotto 85; Lewis 56; cf. Scaglia VIII.18, fig. d), pierced, solder mark on reverse, a very fine early/contemporary cast, stamped with the initials B.M (for Baron de Monville). Provenance: Baron Boissel de Monville (Monville sale, 24-25 January 1861, part lot 106); Paul van Cuyck (late 19th century dealer in Paris); Luc Smolderen collection, Brussels. The scene depicts the story of the continence of Scipio with the youth Allucio and his promised wife - as described by Livy XXXVI, 50, 1-12.

Estimate: GBP 300 - 400