Joseph D'Aste

JOSEPH D'ASTE (Italy, late 19th century-early 20th century).
"Diana and the dogs".
Silver-plated bronze.
Signed.
With casting stamp of the first proof produced.
Measurements: 56 x 60 x 10,5 cm.

The sculptures of Diana with dogs in Art Deco style reinterpret the classic theme of the huntress goddess with a modern, elegant and highly stylized language. As in the bidding work, the figure of Diana appears elongated, slender and geometric, with an idealized and simplified anatomy. The greyhounds are also represented with fluid and aerodynamic lines, integrated into the composition as an extension of the rhythm of the scene. Unlike academic naturalism, the details are reduced and the purity of the silhouettes, symmetry and decorative balance are prioritized.

Joseph d'Asté was a sculptor linked to the academic and decorative tradition of his time. He specialized in small and medium-sized sculpture, working mainly in bronze, with a production centered on allegorical figures, genre scenes and female subjects, often with an elegant and detailed style. His work reflects the bourgeois taste of the time, with influences of late naturalism and certain features of Art Nouveau, and is conceived in many cases as a decorative object. Although he is not a widely documented figure or of great historical notoriety, his pieces appear in the art market, where they are valued in the field of European decorative sculpture at the turn of the century.