Maquette by Baroque Master, Pietro Bracci, discovered

21st September 2026

This wonderfully dynamic, late Baroque marble maquette depicting Pope Clement XII Corsini enthroned, circa 1736, displays all the hallmarks of its masterful creator, Pietro Bracci (Rome 1700-1773), who is best known for carving the colossal central figure of Oceanus at Rome's Trevi Fountain. Conversely to the monumental scale of Rome’s best-known fountain, this diminutive but nonetheless sharply detailed model stands at just 68cm high. It was spotted by a canny collector at a Wiltshire reclamation yard.

Research undertaken by our furniture specialist, Mark Yuan Richards, points to this intriguing sculpture being the only surviving maquette for an original bronze portrait that once graced the Great Hall of the Palazzo Nuovo on the Capitoline in Rome. The full-size bronze figure of Clement did not stay in place for long. It was subsequently moved and melted down during the First Republic in 1798. Until the discovery of this marble maquette, the only known representation of the former bronze was an engraving by Stefano and Rocco Pozzi.

Pietro Bracci trained in the Baroque tradition, influenced by the dynamism of Gianlorenzo Bernini and was a key creative figure in 18th-century Rome in his own right. His long and distinguished career in the capital is well documented through a detailed diary that he kept meticulously for almost fifty years. Important patrons of the sculptor included Popes Benedict XIII and XIV, for whom he created portraits and tombs. He also created a magnificent tomb honouring Maria Clementina Sobieski, the wife of James Stuart, with a composition that echoed the great tomb ensembles of Gianlorenzo Bernini and is located at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Pope Clement XII (1652-1740) was notable for the fact that he restored papal finances and spearheaded a remarkable programme of artistic, architectural, and civic renewal during the decade that he governed, from 1730-1740. Clement XII not only promoted extensive building projects and greatly strengthened the cultural importance of the Capitoline Hill, but his architectural patronage extended to the new façade of San Giovanni in Laterano, the Palazzo della Consulta on the Quirinal, the restoration of the Arch of Constantine, improvements to Rome's streets and roads, and the initiation of the Trevi Fountain.

Pietro Bracci was commissioned to execute a bronze portrait of Pope Clement XII commemorating the pope’s donation to the Capitoline Museums. The sculpture was funded by the Roman Senate, following on from a successful marble portrait of Clement XII that Bracci had produced for the city of Ravenna.

Appearing in the upcoming Fine Furniture and Collections auction, (Lot 470), on 7^th & 8^th October, this important Italian carved marble model or maquette of Pope Clement XII by Pietro Bracci (Rome 1700-1773) c. 1736, carries an estimate of £5,000-£10,000.

Furniture specialist Mark Yuan Richards said, “This is an exceptionally exciting discovery. To have a rare eighteenth-century marble figure of Pope Clement XII by Pietro Bracci come to light, and now be offered for sale, is a remarkable opportunity. Bracci was one of the great sculptors of eighteenth-century Rome, and this extraordinary survivor offers a tangible connection to the world of the papal court and the artistic splendour of the period.”

Also included in the sale is an Elizabeth I treen painted sycamore banqueting dessert trencher, circa 1550-1600 made especially for serving desserts (lot 225).

Sugar arrived in Europe in quantity for the first time in the 16th century, imported from the newly established colonies in the New World. This set an extravagant trend for banquets consisting entirely of sweet dishes. The most spectacular, such as those for the Royal court, could run to over one hundred different desserts. These would include sugar paste and marzipan moulded into sculptures, sometimes covered in gold leaf. Trenchers were almost always decorated with religious scenes and this one features an illustration the Old Testament story of Susanna and the Elders. They were placed on the table painted-side uppermost and were turned over for use, the dessert being served on the plain underside. It was felt morally important for diners to be warned of the consequences of sinful self-indulgence and neglecting their duties to the poor. This trencher (lot 225) carries a pre-sale estimate of £1,000-£2,000.