Description

Dante’s Beatrice Marble And Alabaster Bust C.1900 By Giuseppe Bessi.. A beautiful marble and alabaster bust of Beatrice by Giuseppe Bessi. The bust has an old restoration at the base Giuseppe Bessi (1857-1922) was one of the most important representatives of Italian salon sculpture. In his work he combined forms of Neoclassicism and Art Nouveau . He learned his craft at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence.This work is titled "Beatrice" after the character in Dante's Divine Comedy. Dante drew inspiration for the character from his acquaintance with Beatrice di Folco Portinari with whom he fell in love. The character, Beatrice, serves as a guide to the underworld in the Divine Comedy. The head of this bust was executed in alabaster, and the torso is carved from coloured marble. Her delicate, serene features plus the folds of her hair and headscarf convey the mastery of the artist. SIZE: height 8 inches, width 7 5/8 inches, depth 3 5/8”. Please see all photos Xp8