Grand Tour Portrait Bust 19th Century

Name: A Late 19thc Grand Tour Bust of a Noblewoman
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1226888
Price: 1800 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing

ObjectSculptures
Period19th century
StyleRenaissance Revival
MaterialPolychrome, Gesso, Gold Leaf, Terracotta
ColourBurgundy & Gold
MotifsPadded headdress, Scroll motif, Gilded borders, Polychrome finish

This late nineteenth-century Grand Tour bust depicts a noblewoman in a Renaissance-style patterned headdress and decorated gown. Crafted in the Renaissance Revival style, the piece consists of carved wood and gesso with a polychrome finish, gold leaf, and burgundy and gold colouration. Delicate scroll motifs decorate the dark headdress and dark central panel of the gown, complemented by gilded borders and patterned trim on the burgundy outer sections. The sculptural form displays visible wear and surface crackling across the painted and gilded details, particularly on the headdress and facial features. Measuring 36 cm in height, the bust sits as a decorative sculptural object suited for display on a mantelpiece within a gentleman's library or study setting. The flat-backed bust rests upright on a flat base, making it practical for placement on narrow ledges, console tables, or bookshelves as a classical decorative accent.

FAQs

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, wealthy European aristocrats embarked on educational travels across Italy and mainland Europe known as the Grand Tour. Travellers purchased decorative portrait busts, often reproducing Renaissance or classical antiquities, as cultural souvenirs to showcase in their home residences.

Nineteenth-century polychrome busts were typically constructed from carved wood, terracotta, or cast plaster finished with a layer of gesso. Artisans applied hand-painted pigments, tempera, and gold leaf gilding to achieve detailed surface patterns and lifelike features.

Authentic nineteenth-century pieces display natural age-related craquelure, subtle pigment flaking, and authentic patination in recessed areas. Construction methods often reveal hand-tooled markings underneath, along with oxidized gilding that shows wear consistent with gentle handling over time.

A Renaissance Revival bust serves as a focal point when positioned atop a fireplace mantelpiece, console table, or within a bookshelf arrangement. The historic form creates visual contrast when set against clean architectural lines or modern painted walls.

Preserve polychrome surfaces by dusting lightly with a dry, soft-bristled brush. Avoid water, chemical detergents, and liquid polishes, as moisture can dissolve historic pigments and lift delicate leaf gilding.

Anthemion Antiques and Interiors

A Late 19thc Grand Tour Bust of a Noblewoman

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