Italian School, 17th–18th centuries

Italian School, 17th–18th centuries
"Head of a Young Man."
Carved marble.
Features a metal mounting on the back.
Measurements: 28 x 23 x 18 cm.

A youthful head depicted in full face, with regular, idealized features and a serene expression. The face, with its smooth modeling and polished surface, is marked by the more dynamic treatment of the hair, consisting of abundant curls that frame the forehead and are distributed in pronounced volumes around the face.

The combination of the classical balance of the features and the movement of the hair reflects models common in Italian Baroque sculpture. The delicacy of the mouth, the large almond-shaped eyes, and the absence of any individual characterization suggest that this is not a portrait, but rather a figure of an allegorical, mythological, or religious nature. It may have been part of a sculptural ensemble, a bust, or an architectural decorative element. Its dating to the 17th or 18th century is further supported by the idealized treatment of the face and the voluminous, undulating rendering of the hair.