LONDON.- Tomasso Brothers Fine Art returns to TEFAF Maastricht 2018 at a new location, Stand 304 on the Champs-Élysées, close to the Fair entrance. The gallery is presenting a Roman-themed display, featuring works dating from ancient times to the neoclassical.

Amongst highlights is a large oil on canvas with an impeccable provenance by Giovanni Battista Cipriani (1727-1785) depicting Castor and Pollux. The mythological twins were associated with Roman knights and cavalrymen and played an important role in martial ceremonies well into the imperial period.

This impressive neoclassical work was commissioned in 1783 by George Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford for the Saloon at Houghton Hall along with two further mythological scenes. It remained in situ at Houghton until well in to the 20th century when it was purchased by The Rt. Hon. John Armar Lowry-Corry, 8th Earl Belmore of Castle Coole, Enniskillen and placed on public display.

“This year, we are pleased to be able to display a number of important large scale works of art held by our gallery due to the spacious presentation of our new stand on the Champs-Élysées. This historical subject by Cipriani will be a major focal point”, comments Dino Tomasso.

“The painting will set the scene for a group of sculptures and objects with connections to Rome that we have gathered for this year’s Fair” adds Raffaello Tomasso.

Giovanni Battista Cipriani was born in Florence but moved to England in 1756, apparently at the behest of the architect Sir William Chambers RA and the sculptor Joseph Wilton RA. Cipriani soon made a name for himself as a fine painter in the neoclassical style and was considered the best historical painter in the country. The great Romantic artist Henry Fuseli admired “The fertility of his invention, the graces of his composition, and the seductive elegance of his forms”. In 1768 he was elected a foundation member of the Royal Academy and also began to teach at the Academy schools. His patrons included King George III, the Lords Charlemont, Tylney and Anson, Sir William Chambers and Robert Adam.

Recognised as leading dealers in the field of European sculpture, Tomasso Brothers Fine Art also specialises in Old Master paintings and objets d’art. Tomasso Brothers will be at Stand 304 (formerly van Haeften), TEFAF, from 10-18 March 2018, at the MECC, Maastricht, Netherlands. Preview days are now 8-9 March.