19th C. Pietro Barzanti Marble Bust of Apollo Belvedere

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Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Oct 8, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-10-08 10:00:00 2020-10-08 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-5796
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• Lot Description
  Pietro Barzanti (Florentine, 19th/20th C), Neoclassical, ca. 1880. Signed "P. Barzanti / Florence" on the verso. An extraordinary marble bust of Apollo, among the most important Olympian gods. Gazing toward his left, with his flowing hair tied in a bow, and a rosette brooch fastening the drapery folds of his cloak on one shoulder - this type is based upon the Apollo Belvedere dating to 325 BCE and attributed to Leochares - a Roman copy of which is located in the Vatican Museums, as the original has never been found. Finely carved from a rich marble of white hues with creamy beige inclusions, this bust presents a handsome visage with fine features and a remarkably delineated coiffure of wavy locks that are centrally parted, tied in a bow on top, secured with a diadem, and resolves in lovely curled tendrils that grace his neck. Size: 16.375" W x 18.125" H (41.6 cm x 46 cm)
  
  The Apollo Belvedere is one of the most revered works of antiquity. The sculpture captivated masters of the Renaissance such as Michelangelo and Durer as well as those of the Neoclassical period such as Antonio Canova. For example, one can see these influences in Michelangelo’s David (1501-1504) and Canova’s Perseus (1801). Both masters strove to realize Leochares’ ability to capture an idealized rendering of Apollo. In addition to the statue in the Vatican Museums, one can also find sculptures, busts, and sketches that echo the Apollo Belvedere composition in some of the most prestigious museums of the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum, and the Getty. Son of Zeus and Leto, and twin brother of the huntress Artemis, Apollo was known as the archer and the god of light, who harnessed his chariot and moved the Sun across the sky. This Neoclassical rendering captures the deity’s larger-than-life presence and mesmerizing grandeur, bringing the legendary Apollo to life in a vivid and romantic manner. The marble’s smooth finish and the sculptor’s virtuosic rendering of Apollo's coiffure and handsome face is a testament to the artist's impressive skill.
  
  A similar Apollo Belvedere bust by Barzanti, though on a spreading socle, sold for $5,736 at Christie's New York - 28 October 2003 - Lot 37.
  
  Provenance: ex-Phoenicia Holyland Antiquities, New York, New York; ex Hutter Auction acquired in the 2010s
  
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  #159361

  Condition

  Signed "P. Barzanti Florence" on the verso. The head has been reattached - some adhesive visible at the break lines - and possibly repaired. Torso professionally repaired from several large pieces. Chips/nicks to peripheries of bust form, garment, and other high-pointed areas. Normal surface wear commensurate with age.
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