Column; Italy, Grand Tour, late 19th century.

Column; Italy, Grand Tour, late 19th century.
Bronze and marble base.
Measurements: 26 x 10 cm.

During the Grand Tour, cities such as Rome, Florence and Venice became epicenters of art collecting. Travelers acquired paintings, sculptures and objects inspired by classical antiquity as tangible souvenirs of their cultural experience. In this context, the miniature columns, made of noble materials such as bronze and set on marble, directly evoked the great models of Roman architecture.
The piece responds to this neoclassical fascination with the ancient world. The bronze, worked in detail, reproduces proportions and decorative elements typical of classical orders, while the marble base reinforces its association with the Italian sculptural tradition. More than a simple ornamental object, the column functions as a symbol: it represents the permanence, cultural heritage and aesthetic authority of Antiquity.