Science, Chemistry, Historical Plaque Sculpture, Scientist, Alchemy, Antique, late 19th Century

Renaissance Scientist in his Laboratory
Continental: 2nd Half 19th Century
Painted cast metal plaque
36 inches high, 17 inches wide, 4 inches deep

Portrait sculptural relief plaque of a scholarly Renaissance man dressed in a red hat and long flowing robe. He stands in a laboratory or study before an arched window, and holds a book open to two pages of scientific diagrams that rests on an elaborately carved reading stand. Numerous other books are shown in the interior together with a chemistry flask. The subject appears to be a scientist and scholar — possibly an alchemist — though he bears some resemblance to the famous Italian astronomer Galileo (1564-1642). The portrait is framed by an arched opening with a column on the left and drapery covering the upper right corner.

The relief is about 4 inches deep and was intended to be installed in a rectangular recessed niche in a wall. It is cast in high quality metal, and hand painted.

Condition: Generally very good with the usual overall aging and wear. Some restorations to worn and flaking to paint, still with remaining wear.