Michele Fabris, or de Fabris, was born in Hungary, hence the other name by which he is often known: 'L'Ongaro'. He moved to Venice and was active as a sculptor both there and in Padua for the remainder of his life. Among his most important commissions was for the decoration of the Vendramin chapel in the Basilica of San Pietro di Castello, Venice. The beautifully executed Allegory of Winter offered here follows in a tradition of such allegorical busts produced in Venice in the 17th and early 18th centuries by artists such as Fabris and his contemporary, Orazio Marinali.

We would like to thank Dr. Maichol Clemente for confirming the attribution of the present lot to Michele Fabris.