A pair of early 19th century Grand Tour gouache paintings over etchings attributed to Michelangelo Maestri (d. 1812, Rome) Both of dancing semi-clad female dancers, in modern frames, each 46cm high, 36cm wide. (2) Michelangelo Maestri is mainly known for his body colours that he based on the then only recently discovered wall frescos in Pompeii. The drawings, which were often made over etched outlines became very popular amongst travellers on their Grand Tour. These particular works are from the very popular series of The Hours of Day and Night, and are based on the frescoes 'Dancers of Herculaneum', found in the triclinium of the so-called Villa of Cicero in Pompeii which was excavated in 1748 -1749 which are now in the Naples Archaeological Museum (inventory numbers 9295, 9297). A set of six from the same series, including two identical gouaches, was sold Christie's London, 13 January 2016, lot 93 (£25,000).