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Italian 19th-20th Century Life-Size Marble Sculpture Titled "Searching for Love"

About the Item

A very fine museum quality Italian 19th-20th century life-size marble sculpture titled "Searching for Love" by Vito Pardo (Italian, born in Venice in 1872) Depicting a semi-nude lifesize maiden surmounted with a cherub climbing at her side and a putto by her feet, all raised on a venigrated yellow and beige solid marble pedestal with gilt bronze mounts. Signed: Vito Pardo, Roma, circa 1900-1920. Measures: Sculpture height: 69 inches (175.3 cm). Sculpture width: 28 inches (71.1 cm). Sculpture depth: 25 inches (63.5 cm). Pedestal height: 52 inches (132.1 cm). Pedestal diameter: 25 inches (63.5 cm). Overall height: 121 inches (307.4 cm). Other works by Vito Pardo: A Vito Pardo (1872-1933) bronze group of Italian soldiers with General Enrico Cialdini, circa 1912, A Marche National Monument, commemorating Battle of Castelfidardo on 18 September 1860 in Castelfidardo, Marche, Italy. Vito Pardo trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice under the guidance of sculptor Antonio Dal Zotto. He then studied under Giulio Monteverde in Rome. He made a name for himself as creator of monuments to the fallen of the Great War and is known in particular for one of the most majestic examples in Italy, the Castelfidardo National Monument on the hill of Monte Cucco. The Parco delle Rimembranze, which houses the commemorative group, also hosts a herma dedicated to the artist in 1923 by the citizens of Castelfidardo, which bears a bronze self-portrait similar to ours on the top. This confirms that the Self-portrait of the Gallery of Modern Art (donated to the museum by the artist in that same year, 1923) belongs to the same group of castings developed from the herma of Castelfidardo. However, the artist’s unique attempt to twist the academic style of the portrait stands out: he depicts himself wearing a cyclist's hat to commemorate the great feat in which he had been a protagonist: on June 12, 1897, Vito Pardo led a group of Roman cyclists to Naples, managing to complete the stage in a single day. And so, the Audax Group was born. They got their name from the label assigned to them by the chronicles of the time, “audacious”, also considering their use of very heavy bicycles, without gearboxes and with full wheels. They were also credited with having inspired the birth of randonnée in 1904, the historic long-distance cycling sport symbolized by the Paris-Brest-Paris.
  • Creator:
    Vito Pardo (Sculptor)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 121 in (307.34 cm)Width: 28 in (71.12 cm)Depth: 25 in (63.5 cm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 2
  • Style:
    Rococo (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
    1900-1909
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Circa: 1900-1920
  • Condition:
    Repaired: Restorations to the maiden's right hand and fingers. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fading. Overall current condition is good, restoration is to the maiden's right hand and fingers, one toe re-attached. Always been kept indoors and has a beautiful soft age-patina. The images describe it accurately, a truly beautiful subject sculpture.
  • Seller Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: Ref.: A21131stDibs: LU179624209473

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