Grand Neapolitan Bronze Depicting the Abduction of Europa by Vincenzo Cinque

Exceptional Grand Neapolitan Bronze Depicting the Abduction of Europa by Vincenzo Cinque.

Italian Naples - Circa 1900

This wonderfully cast large scale bronze has retained an exceptional rich chestnut patination, depicting a male figure struggling in vain to stop Zeus/Jupiter in the form of a bull from carrying off Europa who is strapped to his back. The bull has his head lowered as he forces his way past the male figure and the musculature of both humans and animal is beautifully depicted as they strain their bodies in the course of the fight.

The mythical abduction of Europa is one of the most iconic subjects in all of the European art traditions. The subject was painted by, amongst many others, Titian, Jacopo Amigoni, Becafumi, Carlo Maratta, Carracci, Tiepolo and Zuccarelli from the Italian school. Boucher, Claude Lorrain, Rodin and Bonnard from the French school and van Dyck, Jordaens and Rubens in the Dutch and Flemish tradition. The myth has also been the subject of many masterful sculptures such as that by Il Riccio in the Museum of Fine Arts in Hungary, produced around 1520.

What sets this work by Vincenzo Cinque (1852-1929) apart is the much more hyper-realistic tone of the piece. Trained in Naples, Cinque attended the Accademia di Belle Arti there as a young man, later returning to the institution as professor of sculpture.

Cinque is considered to be one of the key artists in the Italian realism movement spanning the late 19th and early 20th centuries and his work tends to take typical old master themes of religious and mythological subjects and reimagine them in this context, creating radically different pieces of art.

Most of Cinque’s surviving works are small-scale busts and figures and the present composition is one of the largest known pieces by the artist and also one of the rarest. The colour and patination this bronze has achieved is of the finest, hard to portray under studio lights hence the reason we have also added showroom images.

Width: 34 1/2 inches - 87cm

Height: 16 1/2 inches - 42cm

Depth: 11 inches - 28cm

Loveday Antiques is a family run business originally established since 1969 in London.

Now in its second generation, Loveday Antiques specialises in an eclectic mix of 18th to 20th Century European furniture and works of art, with a strong emphasis on quality, uniqueness and colour.

As proud members of BADA & LAPADA, the largest association for professional art and antique dealers in the United Kingdom and members of CINOA, the worldwide association for antique dealers you can buy from us with 100% confidence and reassurance as we are committed to upholding and abiding by the strict standards of each association.

Our clients can rest assured that each item is as described and photographed.

All Items are sold with 100% satisfaction 14 day money back guarantee, return delivery will be charged for.

We deliver within the UK for usually between £60-£80 and ship worldwide with professional bespoke crating via air to almost all locations. Please contact us at Loveday Antiques with your full postal address for a very competitive quote.

Delivery within the mainland UK will usually be with 7 to 14 days but please allow up to 28 days. We also ship worldwide with a professional bespoke crating service and large International couriers via air and sea to almost all locations. Please contact us at Loveday Antiques with your full postal address for a very competitive quote.

GOODS

All items listed are in excellent condition having been restored using traditional methods by experienced cabinet makers and polishers keeping the original colour and patina wherever possible.

Please bear in mind you may find the usual markings with antique furniture that are commensurate with age which all add to beauty and uniqueness of the item.

VIEWINGS

We have a reputation for being long established antique dealers in London having had showrooms concurrently running in Islington, Chelsea and Ascot. We have relocated our new showroom, due to London overheads, easily reached between A1 or A10 to just outside of Hertford, Hertfordshire.

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