Unknown

Pair Red Porphyry and White Marble Sculpture Busts Of Roman Emperors Grand Tour

after 1800

A portrait of a Silenus, ( also know as satyr) carved in white marble probably in central Italy in the 19th Century. The head despite a man with long hears in equine style with also ...

A Roman Paonazzo Breccia And White Marble Portrait Bust of Julius Caesar 19th, monumental in size, the emperor with his head in a straight position, His mature face, with a thoughtf...

An interesting specimen gray marble torso sculpture of a nude man, classical roman grand tour style wearing a tunic on the right shoulder in contrapposto position standing on an iron...

A very unusual and interesting monumental marble relief, hand carved in Italy in the early XX century that shown an interesting scene: the Apotheosis of the emperor Augustus. Apotheo...

Signed: A. Carrier-Belluese Two large bronze matching busts of an unknown male and female 22 x 10 x 11" male 23 x 10 x 9" female Both show signs of wear with their age but are in fa...

Pair of white marble sculptures - Allegory of Summer and Winter. Italy, early 17th century. 13 x 10 x h 30 cm including base, 11 x 9 x h 28 cm excluding base. Entirely in carved wh...

This monumental bust is a museum-quality example of Roman Baroque sculpture. Crafted by the legendary Domenico Guidi and carved from Carrara marble, the impressive portrait captures the visage of Pope Innocent XI, Benedetto Odescalchi (1611-1689). It presents a larger-than-life example of Guidi’s remarkable skill as a sculptor, which ultimately made his workshop one of the most important in Rome during his age. Today, his works are rarely found on the market, particularly his extraordinary works in marble. Pope Innocent XI was born Benedetto Odescalchi into an Italian noble family of prominent bankers. Spending his early years in banking, he eventually turned to the law, earning his doctorate in 1639. His background would serve him well in his service to the papacy, and he became known as a frugal and devout member of the Church. In 1676, he was unanimously elected Pop after the death of Clement X. During his nearly 13-year reign, he instilled his own personal ideals of austerity and frugality onto the Church, with a deep commitment to reform and piety. He is captured here by Guidi in his traditional Pope’s mozzetta and camauro cap. A wide stole is draped over his shoulders, ornamented by acanthus leaves and the coat of arms of the Odescalchi family. It displays Guidi’s mastery over the chiaroscuro effect, particularly in the high level of contrast in his cheeks and his eyes, which Guidi achieved through various methods of high polish. A very similar portrait sculpture of Pope Innocent XI by Guidi can be found in the collection of the Royal Castle in Warsaw. The Warsaw bust belongs to a series of portraits of popes which the Odescalchi family commissioned from Domenico Guidi in the 1690s. Compared to that example, the present bust is far more dramatic, with deeper cut lines and a more precise expression. It is likely that the present piece was seen by the Odescalchi family, who ordered a similar one to be made. The piece was almost certainly intended to be displayed in a niche, given its dramatic cutting and its roughly carved back. Others of Guidi’s busts can be found in important collections throughout Italy, England and the United States, though many of these are lesser bronze repetitions. A bronze bust of the Pope Alexander VIII by Guidi is currently in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum (London), while a terracotta version of the same is in the Los Angeles County Museum. A bronze of Pope Alexander VIII can be found in the Princely Collection of Lichtenstein, and his impressive marble papal bust of Clement IX graces the pope’s tomb in Santa Maria Maggiore. The present bust of Pope...

A beautifully hand carved, full size Carrara marble figure of a boy. The robe is elegantly draped with clasps.