A late 19th Century Italian carved marble bust, after the ''Albani Faun'' classical Roman sculpture.
High quality bust in Carrara marble with socle base in dark grey & red veined marble.
Very impressive and theatrical decorative sculpture.
Provenance: French Art Market
H: 64cm / W: 38cm / 20cm.
The ''Albani Faun'', also sometimes referred to as the ''Laughing Faun'', is a Roman marble dating to circa 100 BC, which resides today in the Munich Glyptothek. The work was previously part of the prestigious collection of antiquities at the Villa Albani in Rome. The Villa Albani, known today as the Villa Albani Torlonia, was built in the mid-18th century for Cardinal Alessandro Albani (1692-1779), nephew of Pope Clement XI (1649-1721), to house his collection of antiquities, curated by ''the father of art history'' J.J. Winckelmann (1717-1768). As soon as the villa was completed in 1763, Cardinal Albani welcomed cultivated visitors to admire the collection, which immediately bec
...ame a highlight for British aristocrats on the Grand Tour. The Albani Faun was reproduced by 19th Century sculptors and such marble busts were extremely popular amongst Grand Tourists visiting Italy.
In 1797, following the invasion of the Papal States, the faun is believed to have been part of the haul of Roman antiquities taken from Rome to Paris by Napoleon''s army. Following Napoleon''s final defeat at Waterloo in 1815, the famed sculptor Antonio Canova (1757-1822), was dispatched to Paris by Pope Pius VII (1742-1823) with the task of negotiating the repatriation of the stolen artwork. Canova was successful and much of the booty was returned to its original owners, however some treasures remained in Paris because the costs of transporting them home were too high. One such work was the Albani Faun, which was never returned to the Albani family, and was subsequently sold in Paris to Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria (1786-1868), with whom it travelled to Munich, where it remains to this day.
The present marble bust, an Italian antique reproduction after the classical original, depicts the young Faun with his head turned slightly to the left and looking down, with a bare chest and shoulders. The iconic faun, a sylvan demigod from Classical mythology, can be recognised by his goat''s horns and grin.
Would ship to mainland UK with van courier: £70 South East England / £100 England, Wales & South Scotland (more for Northern Ireland & Scottish Highlands).
Also van courier possible to Central Europe - est £300 (message for quote).
Shipping to Europe, USA and Rest of World possible boxed or crated - message for quote.
Dreams Less Sweet Antiques - Curated Theatrical Antiques, Curiosities & Works of Art.
Items ship from London, Worldwide.Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA1194059
Dateline of this antique is 19th Century
Height is 64cm (25.2inches)Width is 38cm (15.0inches)Depth is 20cm (7.9inches)
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