Andrea di Alessandri, 'Il Bresciano' (attributed to): A pair of bronze candlesticks, Venice, dated 1567

Andrea di Alessandri, 'Il Bresciano' (attributed to): A pair of bronze candlesticks, Venice, dated 1567 H 50,2 - 49,7 cm This pair of candlesticks is attributed to Andrea di Alessandri, 'Il Bresciano' (Italian, Brescia ca. 1530 - ca. 1569 Venice). Each candlestick bears the inscription 1567 SOTO IL GUARDIANADO DEL M (CO) MISIER PIETRO ROTTA ET COMPAGNI above the armorial medallions. The first medallion bears the crowned monogram ST (Santo Teodaro?). The second is divided, with a wheel at the top and a diademed head at the bottom above three mountains, probably the coat of arms of the main patron Pietro Rotta. The third shield is split, with an arm emerging from the centre of the shield, holding a weapon to the left. On the right, three acorns are divided at the top, above an animal (a sheep?), possibly the combined coat of arms of the patrons. The lower base is inscribed SCOLLA DE SANTO TEODARO.There is a very strong similarity to the base of a procession cross in the K.K. Ambraser Sammlung Wien, as described in the 1872 edition of the 'Mittheilungen der K.K. Central-Commission zur Erforschung und Erhaltung der Baudenkmale' in Austria. The author, Eduard von Sacken, provides a detailed description and illustrates the cross and its base. A pair of larger, more elaborate candlesticks is in the Metropolitan Museum, accession number: 1975.1.1382 (link). Ref.:- Eduard von Sacken: 'Ein gothisches Vortragekreuz in der k. k. Ambraser Sammlung', 'Mittheilungen der K.K. Central-Commission zur Erforschung und Erhaltung der Baudenkmale', 1872, pp. 106-110. (see added scans, courtesy of Heidelberg University Librar, link).- Sotheby's, New York, Jan. 29, 2010, lot 405, for a crucifix on a similar yet more elaborate base (link).