catalog text
PROFESSOR GIUSEPPE BESSI (ITALIAN, 1857-1922)
BUST OF BEATRICE, MUSE OF DANTE ALIGHIERI
Carved alabaster | Signed verso "Prof. G. Besfi"
Item # 107SNP14Q
A beautifully carved alabaster bust of Dante Alighieri's muse, Beatrice, executed by Giuseppe Bessi. Typical of his sensitive works, the present model features four blocks of the stone selected for their color profiles: the base, the garment, the neck through the headwrap and her face with hair each carved from separate blocks of stone. The work is incised throughout with the delicate garment decorations and the base title; it is signed to the reverse "Prof. G. Besfi", the scroll of the f typical in his signature as a loosely stylized "s".
Measurements: 20 3/8" H x 7" D x 17" W
Condition Report:
Edge chips between the garment and the base. Edge chips to the base, notably to the back corners where there are larger losses, but also to the front edge. Some minor roughness and discoloration throughout. A fine presentation.