ATTRIBUÉ À FRANCESCO DI VIRGILIO FANELLI (1585-1661)

ATTRIBUTED TO FRANCESCO DI VIRGILIO FANELLI (1585-1661)
Venus and Cupid after a model
by Giambologna (1529-1608)
Small bronze group with brown patina.
Italy or England, first half
of the 17th century
Height: 14.4 cm - Width: 4.4 cm
Depth : 4.7 cm
(Wear and tear, accidents, visible missing parts,
on a wooden pedestal and marble base)

PROVENANCE
- Nicolas de Hurtado Collection (1854 - 1920)
- Probably stolen on December 21, 1937 and
returned to the family on the 23rd to the widow
of the previous owner née Amparo, baronne Beyens
(1859 - 1946)
- Remained in the family to this day.
The contoured, typically Mannerist attitude
of our small group is derived from the large
standing female figures Giambologna produced
around 1560. It is assumed that he and his
and his workshop later produced small wax models
wax models of these pleasing subjects around the theme
around the theme of Women in the Bath. These wax models were
bronze, notably by Susini or
Fanelli. The latter, to whom our subject is attributed
subject is attributed, was of Italian origin and
to England to work at the court of Charles I
where he specialized in the production
small bronzes in the Florentine style.