Victorian Sculptures

The cigar store Indian originated as a tradition, not in the United States but in Europe, where carved “Virginie men,” as Europeans called native Americans, were used for advertising...

Tête de Faune, Picasso, Unique work, 1960's, Terracotta, Tiles, Design, Sculptur Tête de faune Unique work 14.03.1961 Painted and glazed terracotta tile...

This remarkably fluid terracotta bozetto was made in preparation for Pietro Pacilli’s most important public commission, a large-scale marble statue of San Camillo de Lellis for the nave of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Expressively modelled, this terracotta sculpture is a rare and significant work made by a major Roman sculptor at a transformative moment of European sculpture. Pacilli began his working life on the great Baroque decorative projects initiated in the seventeenth century, but he found success as a restorer of ancient sculpture working to finish antiquities for a tourist market, becoming an important figure in the emergence of an archaeologically minded Neoclassicism. Pacilli trained Vincenzo Pacetti and provided important decorative work for the Museo Pio-Clementino, at the same time he is recorded restoring some of the most celebrated antiquities excavated and exported during the period. Pacilli was born into a family of Roman craftsmen, his father Carlo was a wood carver, and Pacilli is recorded working with him on the Corsini Chapel in San Giovanni Laternao as early as 1735. In 1738 his terracotta model of Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife won the first prize in the second class of the sculpture concorso at the Accademia di San Luca, this is particularly notable as Bartolomeo Cavaceppi came third. He worked as a carver and stuccoist completing works for the churches of San Marco and SS. Trinita dei Domeniciani Spagnoli. Pacilli operated as a sculptor and restorer of antiquities from his studio at the top of the Spanish Steps, close to Santa Trinita dei Monti, where he is listed as a potential vendor to the Museo Pio-Clementino in 1770. In 1763 Pacilli completed a silver figure of San Venanzio for the treasury of San Venanzio. He is recorded as Pacetti’s first master and it was evidently through Pacilli that he began to acquire his facility as a restorer of ancient sculpture. Pacilli, at his studio ‘poco prima dell’Arco della Regina alla Trinita dei Monti,’ exercised, what the nineteenth-century scholar, Adolf Michaelis called ‘rejuvenating arts’ on several important pieces of classical sculpture, including in 1760 the group of a Satyr with a Flute for the natural brother of George III, General Wallmoden, Hanovarian minister at Vienna. In 1765, Dallaway and Michaelis record that Pacilli was responsible for the restorations, including the addition of a new head, to the Barberini Venus which he had acquired from Gavin Hamilton. The Venus was then sold to Thomas Jenkins, who in turn passed it on to William Weddell at Newby Hall. In 1767 Pacilli exported a series of ancient busts ‘al naturale’ including portraits of Antinous, Julius Ceaser and Marus Aurelius, also a statue of a Muse and a Venus. As early as 1756 Pacilli seems to have been operating as an antiquarian, helping to disperse the collection of the Villa Borrioni. Pacilli supplied sculpture to notable British collectors, including Charles Townley, who on his first trip to Italy purchased the Palazzo Giustiniani statue of Hecate from Pacilli. Pacilli was involved with the Museo Pio Clementino from its conception, supplying busts of Julius Ceaser and a Roman Woman as well as completing stucco putti surmounting the arms of Pope Bendedict XIV to signal the entrance to the new Museo Critiano. In 1750 Il Diario Ordinario del Chracas announced that Pacilli had begun work on a sculpture of San Camillo de Lellis for St Peter’s. Camillo de Lellis founded his congregation, the Camillians, with their distinctive red felt crosses stitched on black habits in 1591. Having served as a soldier in the Venetian army, Camillo de Lellis became a novitiate of the Capuchin friars, he moved to Rome and established a religious community for the purpose of caring for the sick. In 1586 Pope Sixtus V formerly recognised the Camillians and assigned them to the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena in Rome. Camillo de Lellis died in 1614 and was entombed at Santa Maria Maddalena, he was canonised by Benedict XIV on June 26, 1746. It was an occasion that prompted the Camillians to make a number of significant artistic commissions, including two canvases by Pierre Subleyras showing episodes from San Camillo’s life which they presented to Benedict XIV. In 1750 Pacilli was commissioned to fill one of the large niches on the north wall of the nave with a sculpture of San Camillo. The present terracotta bozetto presumably had two important functions, to enable Pacilli to work out his ideas for the finished sculpture and at the same time to show his design to the various commissioning bodies. In this case it would have been Cardinal Alessandro Albani and Monsignor Giovan Francesco Olivieri, the ‘economo’ or treasurer of the fabric of St Peter’s. Previously unrecorded, this terracotta relates to a smaller, less finished model which has recently been identified as being Pacilli’s first idea for his statue of San Camillo. Preserved in Palazzo Venezia, in Rome, the terracotta shows San Camillo with his left hand clutching his vestments to his breast; the pose and action more deliberate and contained than the finished sculpture. In producing the present terracotta Pacilli has expanded and energised the figure. San Camillo is shown with his left hand extended, his head turned to the right, apparently in an attempt to look east down the nave of St Peter’s. The model shows Pacilli experimenting with San Camillo’s costume; prominently on his breast is the red cross of his order, whilst a sense of animation is injected into the figure through the billowing cloak which is pulled across the saint’s projecting right leg. The power of the restrained, axial contrapposto of bent right leg and outstretched left arm, is diminished in the final sculpture where a baroque fussiness is introduced to the drapery. What Pacilli’s terracotta demonstrates, is that he conceived the figure of San Camillo very much in line with the immediate tradition of depicting single figures in St Peter’s; the rhetorical gesture of dynamic saint, arm outstretched, book in hand, head pointed upwards was perhaps borrowed from Camillo Rusconi’s 1733 sculpture of St. Ignatius...

Well modeled 19th century French bronze of a standing naked woman. Signed Cartinet, this piece is a wonderful example of the skill of a Sculptor. The piece retains all its origina...

A good antique Italian Grand Tour Bronze and marble bust of Dante Alighieri, circa 1880. The bronze is most likely Florentine and mod...

Original Painting: Terracotta Relief With Acrylic Painting on Wood Panel Hand signed These works are paintings with a 3D carved sculpture dimension to them, fusing sculpture with painting Mixed media on board depicting a romantic couple, a woman seated on a man's lap. Mark Kanovich...

Vase designed by Laura de Santillana in edition for Arcade, 2001. this is from a series of tropical fruit and plant form inspired vases with the same matte, hand engraved, finish: PAPAIA, made in three different shades of green. MANGO, made in dark red glass. PASSION, made in an orange red glass. MARACUIA, made in golden yellow glass COCCO, made in brown glass Produced by maestro Simone Cenedese in Murano Mouth-blown, hand-shaped, cut glass. Country of Manufacture Italy. Signed by maker and sticker label from Arcade. Hand-Crafted LAURA DE SANTILLANA After finishing her studies, she moved to New York, where she attended the School of Visual Arts 1975 – 1977 and works with Massimo Vignelli as a graphic designer. she returned to Italy and began her active collaboration with the Venini & C, where she came in contact with many Italian and foreign artists. During this period she used the techniques of Murano to create refined works with unusual colors, perfecting the “vetro mosaico” technique. Her glassworks have received many prizes and recognitions, and are held by the most important museums of the world. She collaborated with Venini between 1976 and 1985, during which she designed a range of articles. 1995 Starts collaboration with Simone Cenedese, which continues to this day. 2001-2002 Begins working in bronze and in wax sculpture at the Fonderia Brustolin, Verona SELECT SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2018: In This Light, Galleri Glas, Stockholm 2017: Ciel Terrestre, Galerie Pierre Marie Giraud, Bruxelles 2016:Laura Diaz de Santillana, Stefan Vogdt/Galerie der Moderne, Munich Sleeves, Caterina Tognon, Venezia I fedeli, Studio Museo F. Messina, Chiesa di S. Sisto, Milano 2015: Laura de Santillana, O cha dogu, Ippodo Gallery, Tokyo, Japan 2014: Tokyo-ga, Ippodo Gallery, Tokyo, Japan 2013: Big Flats, Galerie L’Arc en Seine, Paris, France 2012: Laura de Santillana Meteors, David Richard Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, USA 2011: Grands Transparents, Galerie L’Arc en Seine, Paris, France Liquid Glass, Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA 2010:Laura de Santillana, Prague Festival, Istituto di Cultura Italiano, Prague, Czech 2008: Laura de Santillana, Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Los Angeles, CA, USA 2007: Khadi, Galleria Marina Barovier, Venice, Italy 2006: Bodhis, Galerie L’Arc en Seine, Paris, France Bodhis, Barry Friedman Gallery, New York, NY, USA 2005: New Work, Sanske Galerie, Zurich, Switzerland 2001Laura de Santillana Works, Museo Correr, Venice, Italy (catalog) Laura de Santillana Works, Barry Friedman Gallery, New York, NY, USA (catalog) Metals, Elliott...

Louis Auguste Moreau French, (1855-1919) David Bronze, signed Height: 7.5 inches Width: 3.25 inches Depth: 3 inches Louis Auguste Moreau was born in Dijon, France in 1855 into a fam...

This intriguing interactive sculpture is designed by the Japanese born artist Natsuki Takauji. A gently curved metal and composite dark brown wood chai...

Inspired by the effect nature has on materials, Pascal Oudet’s wood sculptures are intricate filled with complex yet simple details. Born in 1972 in Vesoul, France and trained in eng...

Leonard Wells Volk was a famous American sculptor. He went to posterity after making one of only two life masks of United States President Abraham Lincoln. I...

Ed. of 9 Sophie Ryder was born in London in 1963 and lives in the heart of the Gloucestershire countryside with her family. She studied visual arts at the Royal Academy Schools and ...