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Sculpture depicting Dante and Beatrice, Alabaster, 20th century

$3,599.80
£2,654.71
€3,000
CA$4,971.29
A$5,454.69
CHF 2,854.73
MX$67,128.78
NOK 35,965.34
SEK 33,686.90
DKK 22,848.69

About the Item

Dante and Beatrice Alabaster, 33 x 20 x 36 cm Early 20th century The present alabaster relief, of which great technical skill is evident, imitates the pages of a book, On the two sides of this one figures in overhang the bust of Dante Alighieri, in typical ancient-style profile pose, gazing bewitched at his beloved Beatrice carved on the page beside him and in an elevated position, underscoring his belonging more to the spiritual world than to the earthly. The profile pose borrowed from ancient portraiture and traditionally handed down to us by the effigy of the supreme poet is expedient to figuratively render Canto XXI of Paradise, the first verse of which is engraved in the upper edge of the work. Indeed, in the present canto Dante reports that his eyes are already fixed on the face of his beloved Beatrice, so much so that he is turned away from every other object. Beatrice did not smile, but told him that if he did Dante would have the same fate as Semele, daughter of Cadmus, who to look at Jupiter in all his splendor was incinerated. The beautiful Beatrice, with her perfectly oval face and delicate features is in an elevated position above the poet who follows her on the journey, suggesting precisely the ascent into the heavens of Paradise. Dividing Dante from Beatrice is finally, the laurel branch, the symbol of poets and literati that usually encircles Dante's head but here is loose and placed diagonally lapping the pages of the book. The item is in good condition
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 13 in (33 cm)Width: 14.18 in (36 cm)Depth: 7.88 in (20 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    unfamiliar
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    Milan, IT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU5918239024932

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