From Gian Lorenzo Bernini, XVIIth century

From GIAN LORENZO BERNINI (Naples, 1598 - Rome, 1680). Rome, early 17th century.
"Saint Bibiana".
Blued bronze.
Work previously auctioned at Sotheby's.
In 1993 another identical model was auctioned at Christie's New York. This work was catalogued as the artist's own.
Measurements: 48 x 20 x 14 cm.
Bronze work made by the bronze workshop of Bernini in Rome in the early seventeenth century, under the supervision of the baroque master. It is a serial piece of which very few copies were made, although the exact number is unknown. It is based on the sculpture of Saint Bibiana that Gian Lorenzo Bernini made in marble between 1624 and 1626, currently preserved in the church of Santa Bibiana in Rome.
The saint, wrapped in a cloak that molds her breast and a Roman-style mantle, stands on a circular base; the right arm raised holding a symbolic flame and the palm of martyrdom in the left.
Bernini designed and modeled the statue which, however, was realized under the direction of Giovanni Antonio Mari in 1657. The structure of the work faithfully reflects the inspiration of Bernini's Saint Bibiana in the church of the same name in Rome.
The first bronze reductions of the models of Gian Lorenzo Bernini
are rarely seen on the art market. The Saint Bibiana is one of the few religious sculptures by Bernini that were cast in bronze.
that were cast in bronze. The only others are the "Beata Ludovica Albertoni" and the "David".
In addition, the bronze casts of the Saint Bibiana are particularly rare, in fact only two others are known: one that was in
only two others are known: one that was in Drouot, Paris, December 9, 1994, lot 52 (48.5 cm) and another offered at Christie's New York, December 9, 1994, lot 52 (48.5 cm).
another offered at Christie's New York, June 2, 1993, lot 221 (47 cm).
According to Philippe Malgouyres, these bronzes refer to high quality terracottas, which were probably modeled from marble.
probably modeled after the original marble; "this is clearly the case with the Saint Bibiana, largely copied in clay", and he believes that the same is true of the Beata Ludovica.
Of the Beata Ludovica Albertoni there are larger scale bronze versions of several of Bernini's mythological models, such as "Pluto and Proserpina" and "Apollo", documented as having been acquired by George Parker,
future Earl of Macclesfield (c. 1695-1764), on his Grand Tour to Italy between 1719 and 1722.