Lot 289B
Western Europe, Italy, late Baroque period, ca. 18th century CE. A tender and luminous vision of innocence, this Italian Baroque marble cherub head emerges from a cradle of softly unfurled wings, its rounded cheeks and gently parted lips conveying a quiet, celestial presence. The sculptor has rendered the youthful face with remarkable sensitivity, from the subtle fullness of the cheeks to the delicately drilled pupils and softly defined mouth, lending the figure an almost breathing vitality that belies the permanence of stone. The hair is arranged in tight, curling locks that gather across the forehead and temples, each curl carved with a rhythmic precision characteristic of Baroque craftsmanship. These lively forms contrast beautifully with the smooth expanses of the face, creating a play of light and shadow that animates the surface. Size: 11.5" W x 7.2" H (29.2 cm x 18.3 cm); 6.5" H (16.5 cm) on included custom stand.
The wings, framing the head like a divine halo, are carefully articulated with layered feathers, their gentle curvature enhancing the sense of softness and buoyancy associated with angelic imagery.
Such winged cherub or putto heads were a favored decorative motif in Baroque Italy, frequently appearing in ecclesiastical settings, funerary monuments, and architectural ornamentation. They served not merely as embellishment but as symbolic intermediaries between the earthly and the divine, embodying purity, protection, and the presence of the heavenly realm. This example, with its intimate scale and refined execution, may have once adorned a chapel interior, altarpiece, or devotional niche.
The marble retains a warm, creamy tone, its surface showing minor wear consistent with age, which enhances its tactile quality and historical depth. Mounted on a velvet-lined wooden base for presentation, the reverse of the marble is fitted with a metal hook, indicating its original function as a wall-mounted ornament. Both as a sculptural fragment and as a complete aesthetic object, it offers a graceful survival of Baroque artistry - a small yet resonant echo of a world where faith, beauty, and craftsmanship were inseparably entwined.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; purportedly acquired at Sotheby's New York, New York, USA in the mid-1980's
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#201866
- Condition: Some chips and roughness to edges as well as minor nicks to nose, forehead, and chin. Light surface wear commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with impressively preserved detail.
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