GRAND TOUR
Italy, mid-19th century

Bust of the goddess Diana

Cast by Del Nero Foundry, Rome, crisp inscription to base of neck verso DEL NERO ROMA
Patinated bronze raised on a mottled pink marble plinth

14" H x 3 7/8" base diameter; 9 7/8" H (bust without base)

A refined 19th-century bronze bust of Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, the moon and chastity, she is depicted typical of antiquity with her head inclined in a contemplative pose. Her features are delicately modeled with downcast eyes, finely parted lips and intricately worked hair bound with a crescent diadem at the part. The patina is dark brown with relieved patination in the crescent and ribbon in her hair, the surface with a deep luster and subtle warmth. The bust is mounted on an integral angled socle and raised on a separate columnar plinth of mottled rosso antico marble, richly variegated with tones of deep pink and cream.

The piece is carefully incised along the back of the neck with the foundry inscription DEL NERO ROMA.

The Del Nero Foundry
Operating in Rome during the height of the Grand Tour, the Del Nero foundry specialized in bronzes inspired by antiquity and the Renaissance. Their work catered to the flourishing demand among international travelers eager to bring back refined souvenirs of their European journey. 

Curator’s Note
This bust reflects the 19th-century revival of classical themes in the decorative arts, where mythological figures such as Diana embodied both aesthetic refinement and symbolic resonance. Diana’s crescent diadem links her directly to lunar associations and the protective, virginal qualities attributed to the goddess since antiquity. The marriage of a darkly patinated bronze with a richly colored and veined marble was particularly favored in Rome, as it echoed ancient practices of polychromy and heightened the aesthetic appeal of such objects for cosmopolitan travelers.

Condition: Repairs around the edges and center of the marble plinth. We had a local artisan machine a permanent brass mounting plate to set in the stone that the base is now threaded into, replacing the poorly conceived cobbled-together wooden fitting formerly in place. Carefully cleaned and sealed in conservator's wax. Ready to place. 

ref. 506NPA30P