An Italian Baroque Style Carved Walnut Figural Armchair

IN THE MANNER OF ANDREA BROSTOLON, 19TH CENTURY

Height 62 x width 36 x depth 30 inches.

Property from the Michael Hall Collection, Miami Beach, Florida

Andrea Brustolon, a Venetian carver well-known for his exuberant Baroque style furniture and sculptures, trained in the studio of the Genoese sculptor Filippo Parodi. Working first in Venice, 1680-1685, his furniture, including armchairs with figural sculptures that take the place of front legs and armrest supports were surely influenced by Bernini's Cathedra Petri (Chair of St. Peter) created in 1666 and now in the Vatican.

Brustolon had many imitators, both contemporary and later. The Venetian sculptor Valentino Panciera Besarel (1829–1902) made upholstered armchairs in the Brustolon manner from the 1860s.

Note:

By all accounts, Michael Hall, actor, collector and art dealer, was a memorable character who led a truly remarkable life. Michael delighted in being outrageous - frequently the life of the party, always with an entertaining repertory of anecdotes and jokes. Michael was also a very serious collector with an inquisitive nature, extremely passionate and opinionated concerning his chosen field of Renaissance and Baroque Works of Art, and was always willing to share his vast knowledge.

Michael was mentored by Wilhelm Valentiner, a specialist in Italian Renaissance Art and then a consultant to what would become the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Through Valentiner, Hall was introduced to Sir John Pope-Hennessy and Sir Kenneth Clark, and formed friendships with a number of authorities including Rudolf Wittkower, H.W. Janson and Francis Watson.

In 1963, Hall moved to New York, and with William Mills, opened a gallery at 6 East 79th Street. His clients grew to include among others, Charles and Jayne Wrightsman, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Art, Boston, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Detroit Institute of Art.

In later years, Michael and his husband, Thomas divided time between their Florida, New York and Connecticut residences, but never stopped enjoying and collecting decorative arts. Those who knew Michael would agree his passion for collecting knew no bounds.