18th century English relief

English relief of the 18th century.
"Knight".
Carrara marble.
Measurements: 85 x 50 x 19 cm; 95 cm (total height with support).

This remarkable relief of English origin shows the extraordinary skill of its craftsman, a marble worker with a sharp critical sense capable of accurately capturing the personality of the portrayed. It is the effigy of a gentleman whose clothing - buttoned shirt and frock coat - reveals both his Anglo-Saxon origin and his high social position, which could be a scholar, a wealthy merchant or a successful sailor. The carving stands out for the smoothness of the surfaces, the cadence of the folds and the serene firmness of the face, modeled from rounded features. The wavy mane has been meticulously worked, strand by strand. The whole presents a play of curves, volumes and depths in which light and shadow play an essential role, enhancing the expressiveness and depth of the work.