Centaur attacked by a Dragon

This bronze representing a Centaur being attacked by a Dragon, is made by the workshop of Fanelli in Italy in the first half of the 16th century.

Little is known about Francesco Fanelli (b: about 1577 - d: soon after 1641). Fanelli was first documented in Genoa in 1608, where, until about 1631, he produced religious works in marble, silver, ivory and bronze. By 1635, he was working at the English court. Although he described himself 'sculptor to the King of Great Britain', it is unclear whether this title was officially conferred. The V&A owns versions of several small bronzes by 'ffrancisco the one-eyed Italian' listed in an inventory of Whitehall Palace in 1639. George Vertue stated that Fanelli 'lv'd and dyd in England'; he is last documented in 1641 and believed to have died soon after.