**Originally Listed At $2500**

Northern or Western Europe, probably Germany or Italy, Renaissance period, ca. 16th to 17th century CE. A remarkably intricate boxwood carving depicting courtly scene that appears to be the formation of an alliance between a king, a pope and 2 other royals. The four men stand atop a classical portico surrounded by soldiers and horsemen with castellated buildings in the background. The architecture is elaborately adorned with Corinthian capitals, archways, maskettes, and reliefs of floral motifs. The pope and king shake hands in agreement as the 2 other figures observe, all are draped in rich robes. A knight's helmet rests on the column's base to the left, as a dog runs up the steps to the right. A label on the verso indicates that this may represent the formation of the Holy League of 1495 or the League of Venice, an alliance between many European leaders against Charles VIII of France. The signature "A.V." is carved into one of the steps. Size of carving: 6.3" W x 4.3" H (16 cm x 10.9 cm); of frame: 10.8" W x 8.5" H (27.4 cm x 21.6 cm)

A label on the verso indicates that this may represent the formation of the Holy League of 1495 or the League of Venice, an alliance between Pope Alexander VI, King Maximilian I of the Holy Roman Empire, the Duke of Milan Ludovico Sforza, King Ferdinand II of Aragon, and the Doge of Venice Agostino Barbarigo against French hegemony in Italy by King Charles VIII of France. Though Venice's ostensible purpose for joining the League was to oppose the Ottoman Empire, its actual objective was French expulsion from Italy. The League was proclaimed on March 1495 and joined by England in 1496. It took place during the First Italian War of 1494 when Charles VIII invaded Italy to enforce his claim on the Neapolitan kingship. After Charles VIII successfully conquered Naples, the League of Venice gathered an army under the condottiero Francesco II Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua and threatened to shut off King Charles's land route back to France. In response, Charles retreated north to Lombardy and the League effectively repelled his army from Naples.

Provenance: private Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA collection

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#177023

Signed "A.V." in lower right. Has not been examined outside of frame but appears to be intact and in overall excellent condition with nice preservation of detail. Frame has repair to left side and chipping to corners, otherwise in good condition with suspension wire on verso for display.