Attributed to Giuseppe de Levis
Italian, 1552 - 1611/1614Pair of Altar Candlesticks, n.d.
On view
Bronze
Dimensions32 1/2 × 10 in. (82.6 × 25.4 cm)
Gift of Viola E. Bray, 2005.147.1
Designed to hold one candle each, these highly decorative candlesticks were not intended for domestic or ordinary use. Instead, they would have been used during the celebration of the Catholic Mass or Eucharist in sacred settings only. Attributed to the Veronese sculptor and bronze-founder Giuseppe de Levis, this set features female grotesque figures and cupids arranged in tiers among urns, leaves, and scrolling motifs, topped by a base bearing an acanthus-leaf candleholder. During the sixteenth century, bronze sculptors often made their work in another medium, such as terracotta, and then gave it to a bronze-founder to execute the design. In de Levis’ case, expertise in both the design and the fabrication process allowed him to execute his own work entirely.
