Giovanni Francesco Pieri (1699-1773). A mid-18th century Italian polychrome wax relief picture after Raphael's 'Madonna del Passeggio', depicting the Holy Family with the infant St. John the Baptist, indistinctly inscribed to remnants of label to verso, 20 x 14.5cm, in a later giltwood frame. Provenance: Christie's, London, 3rd July 1990, lot 9. Pieri was born in Tuscany and worked under Giovacchino Fortini in Florence and came to the attention of the Grand Duke, Gian Gastone, who appointed him as head of the tapestry manufactory in 1733. Following the Duke's death he moved to Naples where he was employed at the royal court of Carlo di Borbone and later Ferdinando IV. A similar relief to the present lot is in the Museo Nazionale di San Martino, Napoli and a smaller relief was sold in these rooms Furniture & Works of Art, 9th November 2010, lot 432 which was signed and dated '1750', for £3,800.