***SOLD***"Pharoah's Feast" (aka "Feasting Scenes In Ancient Egypt") Textured Painting On Plaster By Giovanni Majoli
Items from SS WINNER 5 (ex AUSONIA)
All five panels reassembled. Photo copyright Peter Knego 2010.
Measurements of Each Panel Varies Slightly:
Overall, Ensemble is 19.8 Feet (237.75 inches) Wide by 83 Inches Tall
Textured Painting On Plaster Atop Board
Price: ***THIS ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD***.
The AUSONIA's stylish first class dinig room as built (the Majoli panels shown were moved aft when the room was rebuilt for the ship's cruising career) and a view of "Pharoah" taken in 2007. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2007.
Ravenna's Giovanni Majoli (1893 -- 1986) was one of the artists employed by the Italian state as well as great maritime architect/designers such as Gio Ponti, Nino Zoncada and Gustavo Pulitzer Finale. Many of his works are still extant in Ravenna, most notably the contemporary mosaics in the Palace of the Mutilated (Palazzo del' Mutilati). Like Emanuele Luzzati, Majoli produced artwork that was both eye-catching and fanciful. He was a painter, ceramist, mosaic artist and sculptur and his works graced a gamut of liners from the CONTE GRANDE, ENOTRIA, MESSAPIA and ESPERIA to the LAZIO, CRISTOFORO COLOMBO and FEDERICO C. The first class dining room panels on the AUSONIA, which was built for the Venice to Alexandria run, depicted ancient Egyptian life. There was a two piece panel of Cleopatra commiting suicide by extending her wrist to an urn of asps and a four piece panel called "Hunting Scenes In Ancient Egypt". The centerpiece, properly titled "Feasting Scenes In Ancient Egypt", was this five piece work depicting the Pharoah and his queen presiding over a feast.
Panel 1 of 5: Overall view and details on the back.
The first of five panels measures 47 by 83.25 Inches. In the AUSONIA's final years, this panel was located next to the port dining room windows behind a serving station, which is why it suffered some damage.
Damaged portions of the panel.
While this first section of the panel got the lion's share of nicks and dings during the ship's 52 year career, most of the serious issues are in places that were hidden behind the framework of the ship or ones that could be restored. Also note, this section is three inches taller than others in the set, so most of the top "scrape" would not be seen if the set were framed evenly.
Various details from section one. Photos and copyright Peter Knego 2010.
This section depicts three of the pharoah's man servants.
Panel 2 of 5: Overall view and details on the back.
The second of five panels measures 48 by 82.75 Inches. Here, the story comes to life with an African subject holding fish and the queen, who has the symbol of the sun hovering over her head.
Spectacular details from section two. Photos and copyright Peter Knego 2010.
Panel 3 of 5: Overall view and details on the back, including Zoncada's or possibly Majoli's notations.
The third of five panels measures 47 by 82 Inches. This one depicts the pharoah (in bold orange/red), himself. Note, he is being embraced by the queen while he grasps an ankh. Meanwhile, a jug is poured while something mysterious is being slipped into the urn just below the jug.
Spectacular details from section three. Photos and copyright Peter Knego 2010.
Panel 4 of 5: Overall view and back notation.
The fourth of five panels measures 47.75 by 81.25 Inches. This one depicts three attending maidens. The profiles are breathtaking, in a Picasso-influenced style that was typical of early to mid twentieth century Italian artists such as Modigliani and Majoli.
Spectacular details from section four. Photos and copyright Peter Knego 2010.
Panel 5 of 5: Overall view and back notation.
The fifth of five panels measures 47.25 by 80.75 Inches. This one depicts two slinky female musicians. This may be the most bewitching of the five beautiful sections that comprise this masterwork.
Spectacular details from section five. Photos and copyright Peter Knego 2010.
