20th-Century European School

20th-Century European School.
“Beatrice Portinari.”
Marble.
Measurements: 20 x 17 x 10 cm.

This bust depicts Beatrice Portinari, also known as Bice, a figure traditionally identified with Beatrice from Dante Alighieri’s work, for whom she was a muse and romantic inspiration. Having become a symbol of idealized beauty and spiritual love, her image took on a special poetic dimension in art and literature. The sculpture stands out for its refined treatment of materials and the delicacy of its execution. The face and neck, carved from white marble, feature soft modeling, fluid contours, and delicately sinuous forms—characteristics of the Modernist sensibility. In contrast, the garments are crafted from veined marble, whose rich colors and variety of textures accentuate the ornamental character of the composition.