Pair Relief Capitals

Marble
Italo-Flemish, 18th century

H 40 & 41 x W 49 x D 15 cm
H 15 ¾ & 16 1/8 x W 19 1/3 x D 5 7/8 inch

















This striking pair of marble relief capitals exemplifies the sophisticated sculpting and ornamental vocabulary of the Italo-Flemish school during the 18th century—a period marked by rich cross-regional artistic exchange between Northern Italy and the Southern Netherlands. Executed in finely carved white marble, the capitals are conceived in high relief and combine elements of the Corinthian order with a decorative sensibility aligned with the late Baroque and Rococo traditions.
Each capital presents a dynamic interplay of tightly structured acanthus leaves, floral calyces, and volutes, carved with exceptional clarity and depth. The fluent treatment of vegetal forms—particularly the overlapping acanthus layers and spiraled scrolls—recalls the elaborate stone carving traditions of Venetian architectural ornament, while the compact symmetry and sharp undercutting suggest a Northern European (specifically Flemish) hand trained in precise ornamental modeling.
The capitals were likely intended for interior use, possibly integrated into a boiserie ensemble, chapel decoration, or scenographic architecture. Their flattened rear surfaces and relatively shallow depth (15 cm) support this function, indicating they were designed to be read frontally and affixed to a wall or architectural backdrop.
The marble, a fine-grained, lightly veined white stone, has been polished to a soft matte sheen, enhancing the tactile quality of the foliage and scrollwork. Close inspection reveals traces of tooling and careful finishing, particularly around the tightly folded volutes and deeply drilled floral motifs, indicating the work of a master artisan or atelier familiar with ecclesiastical and aristocratic commissions.
These capitals not only reflect the classical heritage of the Corinthian order—filtered through the expressive dynamism of 18th-century decorative sculpture—but also speak to a broader pan-European taste for antiquity and ornamental richness. They would have resonated with collectors and patrons aligned with the neoclassical revival and the continuing vogue for architectural spolia in the decorative arts.