Grand Tour oil lamp attributed to the workshop of Benedetto Boschetti

Grand Tour oil lamp attributed to the workshop of BENEDETTO BOSCHETTI (active 1820-1870), first half of the nineteenth century.
Yellow marble from Siena. Base in black and antique roso marble from Belgium.
Measurements: 10 x 10,5 x 6 cm.

Oil lamp attributed to the Roman workshop of Benedetto Boschetti, one of the most active and successful at the time of the Grand Tour. His fame was based on the production of luxury objects destined for the Grand Tour travelers, who sought to take back to their countries of origin a part of the splendor of classical Rome. The piece follows the technical excellence of the workshop in that it presents a design inspired by Classical Antiquity: the tank is covered by a theatrical face, while the hole for the wick takes the form of a faucet embellished with moldings. The oil lamp rests on a base that combines two types of marble: antique pink and black, which, together with the Siena yellow, denote the importance that Benedetto Boschetti's workshop boasted.

Boschetti's workshop not only sold objects but was also a key agent in the spread of neoclassical taste throughout Europe. His pieces helped to consolidate the image of Rome as the artistic center of the world and his works are today in the most important collections, such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London or the Prado Museum in Madrid.