Plafon; Venice, XVIII century.

Soffit; Venice, XVIII century.
Biancone di asiago marble.
It presents a fracture in the rear area of the upper left corner.
Measurements. 53 x 75,5 x 8 cm.
Spectacular Lion of San Marco in Biancone di Asiago Marble (Bianco Perlino marble (also known as Biancone or Bianco Asiago is a high quality Italian marble, which is available in a couple of different tones: ice white or with a slightly warmer base). This bas-relief plaque with exceptional body modeling, depicts a walking type Martian winged lion facing left, completely worked and sculpted by hand. Period 1700 and comes from the interior design of an important noble villa in the city of Venice, exclusive private collection. It was placed on the wall above the large Venetian doors, the anatomy of the lion is reproduced with great skill and professionalism. There are several interpretations of the representations of the lion, if it had the tail down, had no sword and stepped on an open book Venice was in times of peace, however if the tail was up and wielded a sword was considered a symbol of war in Venice, certainly a unique piece of history of the region. With the seizure of St. Mark's body by Venice the city acquired with it its iconography, the winged lion of the Tetramorph. However, the lion soon lost its religious association, annihilated by its new political dimension. During the Renaissance, the Martian lion is a widespread motif in the city of Venice and its inland domains. As separate statues inside churches or standing on columns, in frescoes in palaces or loggias or as bas-reliefs on bridges and street facades. At some apotropaic moment, the winged lion acts primarily as the expression of an insular community proudly claiming its power and identity through the figure of the beast. It is in a very good state of preservation.