Sayter, Good Samaritan, 1749, Scagliola Panel on Slate

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An exquisite 18th-century scagliola panel on a slate support. The artwork belongs to the genre of inlaid scagliola with an … Read more An exquisite 18th-century scagliola panel on a slate support. The artwork belongs to the genre of inlaid scagliola with an engraved effect, which enjoyed great success thanks to the work of a family of german origin, descendants of the great painter daniel sayter (1649-1705). Pietro, amedeo, and vittoria sayter worked in rome and became famous for their use of red hatching on a white background to perfectly imitate red chalk engravings.

the panel features the date 1749 at the bottom right and a signature at the bottom left, partially missing due to a small gap in the support (see photo). The sayter surname and the letters "oria" are still legible, likely attributable to vittoria sayter, making this panel one of the rare works signed by a female artist in the 18th century. The artwork depicts the gospel episode of the good samaritan, rendered with exquisite finesse and narrative elegance. A man wounded by bandits and shunned by all is finally rescued by a samaritan, a stranger. A gesture that invites us to transcend social, cultural, and moral boundaries and see others as brothers and sisters.

a rare and fascinating object, it can be easily placed in any setting, perfect for enriching a cabinet of curiosities. Non-contemporary 19th-century carved and gilded wood frame, with some losses and signs of aging (see photo). The artwork has small scratches and abrasions, but is in overall fair condition. Internal dimensions: h 13 x w 24 cm. See less