These Italian early 20th century Renaissance style tempera on wooden board feature mythological scenes made in the gouache style in the manner of Michelangelo Maestri. Extremely decorative fine artwork are scenographic both to hang on the wall and displayed on a piece of furniture thanks to their convenient scale.

The black background enhances the masterfully hand-painted figures with gorgeous and rich extravagant details. The wooden panels are housed in wonderful frames in precious burl olive wood and finished with ebonized thread on the outside and a band of golden beads on the inside.

One painting depicts Demeter, symbol of Mother Earth, sister of Zeus, in Greek mythology she is the goddess of wheat and agriculture, creator of the cycle of the seasons, of life and death, protector of the harvest and of sacred laws. Demeter gave humanity the knowledge of agricultural techniques. Here Ceres is represented on an ancient chariot pulled by snakes while victorious holds a vase full of fruits and ears of wheat in her hand.

The subject of the second en pendant painting also depicts a neoclassical mythological scene: Cupid on a chariot pulled by a sort of female griffins. The smiling winged putto leads a chariot pulled by a winged anthropomorphic figure with the torso of a woman and the legs of a goat flanked by a bearded man who seems to protect himself with a cloth he holds on his arm. This pair of classical style paintings depicting ancient myths - evoked by the revival of the interest shown by European civilization in the art and culture of classical Greece and ancient Rome during the Renaissance period - will enhance any type of environment, both formal and contemporary.

The color palette with the use of different shades of gold on a black background attract attention as well as the refinement of the frames.

These works are rendered in the manner of Michelangelo Maestri, an 18th century Roman artist. His best compositions are based on motifs of ancient frescoes discovered in the archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum and on drawings by Raphael or his pupil Giulio Romano. His work became very popular and sought after, often purchased by European travelers during their Grand Tour. Some of his most famous gouaches were inspired by the ceiling frescoes in the hall of Villa Lante, on the Janiculum Hill in Rome. Francesco Piranesi and Tommaso Piroli published these frescoes in a series of engravings in 1805.

They are preferably sold in pairs but each painting can also be sold individually.

Measurements: W. 53 cm, H. 42 cm, D. 4 cm - Unframed W. 35 x 24 cm.