Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 21

Righetti Francesco Borghese Gladiator Rome 1809 19th Century Grand Tour Statue

Name: Righetti Francesco Borghese Gladiator Rome 1809 19th Century Grand Tour Statue
Brand: Francesco Righetti
Rating: 5 (52 reviews)

Price:$5,900.51

$12,041.86List Price

About the Item

A stunning neoclassical Gladiator bronze sculpture by the Italian artist Francesco Righetti, (Roma 1749-1819) realized in Rome in 1809. The bronze represents the famous Greek sculpture of a young fighter portrayed in the act of protecting himself from the aggression of the enemy with the shield which, originally, had to be attached in the sculpture to the left arm raised on guard. The bronze figure with dark patina rests on a base, which bears the signature F. RIGHETTI F.ROMAE 1809. The original marble, now in the Louvre museum’s Greek Statuary in Paris, can be dated to the first century BC. and it was discovered near Neptune in 1611, becoming two years later one of the most valuable pieces in the collection of Cardinal Scipione Borghese,from which it took its name. Subsequently, in 1807, it was bought by Napoleone Bonaparte and placed in the Salle d’Apollon at the Musée Napoléon. The sculpture, particularly appreciated for its timely and true anatomical rendering, caught in its extremely harmonious athletic gesture, was often reproduced in large and small scale since the 17th century. The perfect translation into bronze of the Gladiator, anatomical perfection of the human body, muscles exaltation and the harmony of the figure, are peculiar characteristics of Righetti’s works. Besides the high quality casting even captures the expression of terror on his face, as in the original model, make it one of the most important models of Neoclassical sculpture. Signed and dated on the front pedestal, F. RIGHETTI F. ROMAE 1809, in the back of the base there is a German engraving which certifies the donation of this artwork to an official from Hamburg in 1905. Righetti was trained in Rome, in the studio of Luigi Valadier’s (1726-1785). His bronze casts were so refined that Catherine the Great and Popes Pius VI and VII were among his patrons. In 1805, he took over from Valadier as head of the Vatican foundry. His debut on the international scene took place in 1781 with the realization of a series of lead castings, copies of ancient masterpieces and not only, for the villa of the famous banker Henry Hope, in Welgelegen near Haarlem. Also Righetti soon became famous for his small bronzes taken from ancient statuary, to which he copied copies taken from the masterpieces of Bernini, by Giambologna. During the French Empire, some of Rome’s most illustrious figures commissioned works from him, including Camillo Borghese and his wife Pauline Bonaparte, Napoleon’s sister. As well as specialising in bronze statuettes, he was renowned for casting monumental sculptures for Antonio Canova, such as the Napoleon I commissioned by Eugène de Beauharnais (Palazzo Brera, Milan). He later worked for the Court of Naples, executing, together with his son Luigi, the equestrian monuments to Charles III and Ferdinand I in front of the Royal Palace. Righetti owned a well-known foundry in Rome, where he sold bronze reductions of celebrated Antique statues. In a few years his works were a great success, so much so that the German Alois Hirt, one of the ciceroni most requested among the German travelers to Rome, defined in 1787, Francesco Righetti and his son Luigi, the most famous bronzesmiths who fuse statues from the ancient to small in the city. In 1794, the Gladiator appeared in a catalogue of bronze statuettes printed by the Roman bronze artist Francesco Righetti (Gladiatore Combattente), Sculpteur & Fondeur en bronze à Rome Rue la Purification à Capo le Case. His excellent castings of classical models were popular souvenirs for the European aristocracy to bring back from their Grand Tour. He counted important princes and kings, including Pius VI and Empress Catherine II of Russia. The modern ebonized wooden basement, mounted with Neoclassical gilt bronze friezes measures 9,5 cm H by 32,5 cm W. by 17,5 cm D. Whereas the bronze sculpture only, measures 34.6 cm H by 33 cm W by 20 cm d. Provenance: Italian Milanese private collection. The sculpture is in good condition, the bronze has a unique original dark patina, slightly marked closed to the German inscription on the back of base. At the right anterior thigh, the resting leg, a minimal inconsistency is revealed in the junction of the jet of the leg and that of the body. Under existing legislation, any artwork in Italy created over 70 years ago requires a governative license for export called Belle Arti. The shipping may require additional 2-3 handling weeks to require and get the license according to the final destination of the artwork.

Creator:
Francesco Righetti (Artist)
Dimensions:
Height: 16.93 in (43 cm)Width: 15.36 in (39 cm)Depth: 9.06 in (23 cm)
Style:
Neoclassical (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Bronze,Wood,Cast,Ebonized
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
Early 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1809
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Milano, IT
Reference Number:
Seller: a7681stDibs: LU2160321072272

Antique 19th Century French Grand Tour Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

French 19th century Grand Tour Period Bronze statue of the Borghese Gladiator

$19,800

H 25.5 in W 21 in D 26 in

Italian 19th Century Grand Tour Period Bronze Statue of the Borghese Gladiator

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

An impressive and high quality Italian 19th century Grand Tour Period patinated bronze statue of the Borghese Gladiator. The statue is raised by a rectangular base where the handsome...

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Italian 19th Century Grand Tour Period Bronze Statue of the Borghese Gladiator

$15,200

H 18.75 in W 20.5 in D 9.25 in

Vintage Grand Tour Bronze Gladiator Statue

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

This bronze-toned figure captures the poised intensity of a classical warrior, frozen in the moment before launching his spear. Wearing only a crested Corinthian helmet and loincloth...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Classical Greek Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Stone, Metal

Vintage Grand Tour Bronze Gladiator Statue

$575

H 13.5 in W 8 in D 4 in

19th Century Bronze of the Borghese Gladiator

Located in London, GB

Nineteenth century bronze of the Borghese Gladiator, Italian or French, mounted on a richly figured Convent Sienna marble base.

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Siena Marble, Bronze

19th Century Bronze of the Borghese Gladiator

$2,895

H 13.78 in W 12.8 in D 7.49 in

19th Century Grand Tour Bronze Statue of Narcissus

Located in Brighton, Sussex

A very good quality Grand Tour patinated bronze figure of Narcissus, dating from the last quarter of the 19th century. Narcissus was a hunter in Greek mythology and he was distinguished for his beauty. This well patinated bronze classical figure...

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Grand Tour Bronze Statue of Narcissus

$5,514

H 25.6 in W 9.45 in D 9.45 in

19th Century Italian Rouge Marble Grand Tour Statue

Located in Los Angeles, CA

circa 1880 Italian Rouge Marble Grand Tour Carved Statue of Ruins

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Sculptures

19th Century Italian Rouge Marble Grand Tour Statue

$11,500

H 21 in W 7 in D 7 in

19th Century Grand Tour Bronze Statue of Venus of Milo

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia

A very fine Grand Tour bronze study of the famous Venus de Milo with excellent rich brown patina and good hand finished surface detail. The casting is unusual in that it does not pretend to hide the many imperfections on the original. It is signed on the base with "Reduction Mechanique Ronald Collas, and for the foundry F.Barbidienne Fondeur. Foundry stamp on the base Considered by any to be the most beautiful Hellenistic statue to survive fro antiquity, the Venus of Milos...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Grand Tour Bronze Statue of Venus of Milo

$4,500

H 33 in W 9 in D 7 in

Antique French Grand Tour Ormolu Bronze Model of Borghese Gladiator

Located in London, GB

This is a wonderful antique French Grand Tour classical bronze model of the Borghese Gladiator, circa 1880 in date. The well patinated bronze on a rectangular bronze base inscribed ...

Category

Antique 1880s French Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Antique French Grand Tour Ormolu Bronze Model of Borghese Gladiator

On Hold

$1,861

H 14.18 in W 9.45 in D 5.91 in

Large 19th Century Bronze Sculpture of Borghese Gladiator

Located in New York, NY

Borghese Gladiator, after the antique large patinated bronze sculpture Italy, 19th Century H 20 in. (50.8 cm) Original marble sculpture was found in the early 1600's in the Anzio so...

Category

Antique 19th Century European Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Large 19th Century Bronze Sculpture of Borghese Gladiator

$4,400

H 20 in W 23 in D 10 in

19th Century French Borghese Gladiator Bronze of Large Scale

Located in Benington, Herts

A finely cast large scale bronze of the Borghese Gladiator with exceptional patina French c.1830-50 Due to the particularly fine casting of our piece, it seems likely that it is ...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Borghese Gladiator Bronze of Large Scale

$4,756

H 21.26 in W 19.69 in D 11.82 in

More From This Seller

View All

19th Century Italian Venetian Neoclassical White Figural Centerpiece Dwarfs

By Este Ceramiche

Located in Milano, MI

A charming and very decorative Italian white ceramic figurative circular centerpiece depicting a group of dwarfs around a palm tree, in a toasting festive attitude. This Italian anti...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

19th Century Italian Venetian Neoclassical White Figural Centerpiece Dwarfs

$2,408

19th Century White Marble Italian Lawyer Portrait Relief

Located in Milano, MI

An oval Italian Carrara marble relief plaque, a 19th century hand-carved marble manly portrait, depicting the lawyer Francesco Rossignoli presiden...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Busts

Materials

Carrara Marble

19th Century White Marble Italian Lawyer Portrait Relief

$2,890

Gladiatore Ferito Figura Grand Tour in Bronzo Ispirata al Galata Morente Romano

Located in Milano, MI

Bronze Wounded Gladiator, Italian sculpture from the early 1900s in good condition. The work is inspired by the Hellenistic sculpture depicting the Dying Gaul the famous marble Galata...

Category

Early 20th Century Italian Grand Tour Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Gladiatore Ferito Figura Grand Tour in Bronzo Ispirata al Galata Morente Romano

$4,816

Lion Figure With Buddha 19th Century Asian Hand Carved Sculpture

Located in Milano, MI

Sculpture Of Fantastic Animal With Deity hand-carved from a single solid exotic wood, probably teak, with traces of polychromy, depicts the fictional lion figure, a lying guardian l...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Southeast Asian Other Animal Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Lion Figure With Buddha 19th Century Asian Hand Carved Sculpture

$1,204

19th Century Italian Female Mannequin Life-Size Artists Lay Figure

Located in Milano, MI

Life-Size Artist Mannequin Italy circa 1870, 19th century articulated lay figure, a carved beech life-size female figure of almost 66 inches, da...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

19th Century Italian Female Mannequin Life-Size Artists Lay Figure

$30,104

Pair of 19th Century German Gnomes Hand Carved Bone Gnome Figures

Located in Milano, MI

Lovely pair of cheerful gnome figurines carved bone gnomes of German origin dating back to the second half of the 19th century. On a carved bone rocky pedestal, a standing smiling gnome holds a mug with a lid in one hand and a bunch of keys in the other; the other gnome figure with slippers seated on the rocks, fixed to the base with a metal pin. In good age related condition, these two antique...

Category