A pair of Spanish 16th century giltwood and polychrome decorated pilastersDecorated with grotesque masks, arabesques and figures depicting the paths to Heaven and Hell, 23cm wide, 10cm deep, 135cm high (9in wide, 3.5in deep, 53in high) (2)注脚Influenced by the Roman frescoes of Nero's palace which was visited by Raphael (amongst others) following its rediscovery in the 1480s. They gained new life as they were reinterpreted in the Papal Palace of Julius II and Leo X. Stylistically there are similarities between the pilasters and architectural features in 16th century South European churches, notably the stonework of Lyon Cathedral, the Church of Saint Spiritus in Salamanca and at Fachada del Ayuntamiento in Seville.We can read the pilasters together as symbolising life and death. The first column's mask with open eyes and mouth staring straight out at the viewer above a Herculean figure with martial elements suspended from his arms symbolises life.The second pilaster leads the viewer to death, with the mask's eyes and mouth closed and lifeless and martial trophies arranged behind. The headless and armless Tritons hung back to back, all enclosed by the Cherub head representing Heaven and the momento mori skull representing Hell.