Chandelier, attributable to the workshop of Francesco Morini (1822-1899)

Francesco Morini was active with his Florentine workshop as early as 1848 and until his death in 1899. One of the city’s most important and prolific carvers in the second half of the 19th century, he was called together with master Ranieri Bardi by the Court Wardrobe to make some of the furnishings to be destined for the Sala Celeste in the Quartiere delle Stoffe in the Pitti Palace. In particular he is responsible for the lumiera “of the tritons,” a large and scenic chandelier that was a great success at the time, so much so that a few years later he was commissioned to make another even more impressive one with its 120 lumens, this time at the behest of Baroness Fiorella Favard de l’Anglande. Indeed, the noblewoman had entrusted the famous architect Giuseppe Poggi with the renovation of her palace on the Lungarno, involving some of the most important manufactures to decorate the rooms. Morini was probably commissioned to make the furnishings for the Ballroom, including the aforementioned chandelier that still stands there and eight sconces that are unfortunately missing (the furniture was sold at auction as early as the turn of the century).
Analysis of these complements fully demonstrates the style of our carver, namely a revival of Renaissance stylistic features in the manner of grotesques that are, however, reworked with powerful carvings and gilding in full keeping with the Neo-Baroque eclectic taste characteristic of the period.
For stylistic reasons and the high quality and refinement of the carving, our chandelier can be attributed to the workshop of Francesco Morini. The shape and size suggest it was originally a larger chandelier later reduced in size.