Jean-Antoine BELLETESTE (Dieppe, 1731-1811) - Lot 339

Jean-Antoine BELLETESTE (Dieppe, 1731-1811) Devotional altarpiece depicting the Crucifixion circa 1790-1800 Ivory elements in a glazed wooden box, ivory mounting ring. Signed and located "Belleteste à Dieppe". H : 30.5 cm - box H : 33 cm CIC FR2307507538-K Works of comparison : - Attributed to Jean-Antoine Belleteste, Retable de dévotion figurant la Crucifixion, dim totale: 34,6 cm ; H: de la scène 21,4 cm - London, Victoria and Albert Museum, n°inv.A.4-6-1978 ; - Jean-Antoine Belleteste, La Crucifixion, ivory, signed, dated and located in the wood on the reverse, wood and glass, box size 30.8 x 18.2 x 5.8 cm - Château musée de Dieppe, n°inv. 913.13.1 ; - Jean-Antoine Belleteste, La Crucifixion, signed, dated and located on the front, ivory and ebony, pearwood, bronze, wood and glass, box size 36.5 x 22.5 x 7 cm - Château musée de Dieppe, n°inv. 988.4.1. This delicate scene, with its rich iconographic details, is presented in its original wooden box, glazed on the front and sides, and illustrates not only the Crucifixion, but also a summary of all the events of the Passion, thanks to the details evoking each episode. Passion, with details evoking each episode of martyrdom. Christ is depicted on the cross at the center of a composition of extraordinary profusion; St. John, Mary Magdalene and the Virgin stand in contrite attitudes in front of all the instruments of the Passion. The ceiling of the frame is studded with stars glued to original fabric, while the front of the altar shows the Christ-like lamb stretched out on the cross. This miniature altarpiece, an extremely luxurious support for private devotion, was made by a member of the most renowned workshop in Dieppe, which specialized in carved ivory from the 16th century onwards. The Belleteste workshop was represented by four generations of artists between the second half of the 18th century and the first third of the 19th century. They distinguished themselves by the quality of their workmanship in objects of sanctity, mythological figures and small precious objects. The work here is signed and located on the front of the altar: it reads "Belleteste à Dieppe". Comparison of this signature in black ink with another affixed to a devotional altarpiece identical in iconography and quality of execution preserved at the Château Musée de Dieppe, allows us to attribute our rare work to Jean-Antoine Belleteste, the first representative of this family, who made it famous. In addition to this altarpiece, dated 1797-1798, there is another example in the Château-Musée de Dieppe, dated 1761. Based on the same model (but with different details, such as the figure of St. John or the treatment of the cross and perizonium), the scenes were executed thirty-seven years apart. The enduring nature of the subject shows the success of this luxury production at the end of the 18th century. However, very few examples have survived to the present day. Examples include the version in the Victoria & Albert Museum, in the Winkler collection in Wiesbaden and in the Musée de Commercy.