Italian master ca. 1820

Italian master; circa 1820.
Carved marble.
Slight wear.
Provenance: Important Spanish private collection.
Measurements: 67 x 33 x 24.
Bust made in marble that presents a face, whose hair and neck are hidden under a detailed veil, from which we can appreciate the folds that form a great volume and give expressiveness to the piece. Aesthetically the work is inspired by classical statuary, specifically Roman, although it is true that the symmetry and the way of configuring the total of the work are Greek, but both the hairstyle and the clothing refer to a greater extent to the precepts of Roman sculpture, which in turn started in some way from the Greek despite other stylistic influences and its own idiosyncrasy. In this case it should be noted that the piece corresponds to a historical period, in which antiquity is used as an example of virtuous society, rescuing and adapting the models established by the aforementioned cultures. As for the face, the aforementioned symmetry allows us to see a face perfectly framed by the veil, and structured through the parting of the hair that allows us to see almond-shaped eyes, a prominent nose and full, tight lips.
For its delicacy and subtlety in the finishes of the carving it is likely that this work was related to the workshop or to Canova himself, neoclassical painter and sculptor Antonio Canova (Possagno, 1757-Venice, 1822), who was a great lover of classical sculpture, recovering in his artistic production, precepts that were developed in classical antiquity, such as interest in the canon, proportion, or symmetry. Always from a 19th century point of view, in which, as in the 16th century, the different disciplines of classical antiquity had been reinterpreted, adapting them to the tastes and circumstances of each era. Canova had a distinctive and characteristic style in which he combined Greek and Roman artistic practices with the first movements of romanticism to enter a new path of neoclassicism.