Late C19th Italian Carved Alabaster 'Grand Tour' Souvenir Sculpture, After the Antique, of "Spinario "Or "The Thorn Puller".

Late C19th Italian carved alabaster 'Grand Tour' souvenir sculpture , after the antique, of "Spinario" or "The Thorn Puller".

Good larger-scale carved alabaster reduction of the Greco-Romano Hellenistic bronze version which is now exhibited in the Capitoline Museum, Palazzo dei Conservatori , Rome , where it has been placed since the 1400's.

Known to have been studied by , and to have influenced some of the greatest of the Renaissance sculptors such as Michelangelo. Copies of the statue were gifted to , and commissioned by ,the Kings and aristocrats of Europe throughout the C16th . Examples can be found in some of the great museums , Royal and private collections of the world.

The statue of "Lo Spinario" or "Il Fidele " (The Faithful) , was thought by some scholars, to depict a faithful lowly shepherd boy who having delivered his message to the Roman Senate, his errand run , has stopped to remove a thorn from his foot. However later thinking is that the sculpture's origins pre-date this theory.

Well-carved version of this iconic image of the boy shown in intense concentrated focus attempting to remove a thorn from the sole of his foot . The figure is depicted seated upon a rock-work base.

Carved with a 'modesty' fig-leaf.

This study is a good example of the type created by the sculpture studios of Italy to satisfy the demands of wealthy 'Grand Tourists ' seeking souvenir copies of the great works of the classical world.

Excellent original condition.

H 18"

W 7"

D 9"

Italy c. 1880

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