Giuseppe Bessi - Bust of Joan of Arc

Dimensions: H x W x D: 55 x 46 x 24 cm (incl. plinth)

Description:
Finely modelled bust of Joan of Arc made of white alabaster and light marble with grey veining.
The head and neck are made of alabaster and set into the marble body below, which rests on a plinth also made of marble. The cloth thrown loosely over the hair makes the hard material appear soft and flowing. The figure is modelled with great plasticity and the lacing of the dress, reminiscent of medieval models, appears absolutely realistic.

The figure of Joan of Arc (1412-1431), who saved France during the Hundred Years' War as a divinely inspired virgin and was canonised in 1920, enjoyed particular popularity in the late 19th century. Busts like this one were popular in bourgeois salons as well as in patriotic or religious contexts. The depiction does not emphasise the martial aspect, but rather the spiritual determination of the Maid of Orléans.

The pedestal bears the inscription on the front Jeanne d'Arc. The spike holding the bust on the pedestal is mounted in the centre so that the pedestal could, in principle, be turned around.

The signature can be found on the back: G. Bessi.

Artist:
Giuseppe Bessi (1857-1922 in Volterra) was an important Italian sculptor who gained an international reputation above all for his portrait busts and figurative works in alabaster, marble and onyx. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence and founded his own workshop in his home town of Volterra in 1879, which he later ran until his death. Bessi is considered one of the outstanding representatives of Italian salon sculpture, in which he combined elements of neoclassicism with the style of Italian Art Nouveau (Liberty). He took the art of alabaster carving to a high level and showed his works at important international exhibitions, such as the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900. His busts, including several depictions of Joan of Arc, can be found in museum collections such as the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and the Ecomuseo dell'Alabastro in Volterra.

Condition:
Authentic and age-appropriate condition of the bust with minor chipping at the bottom. The plinth has a larger chip at the top right.

Price: 1700,-€