French Patinated Bronze Figure of Benvenuto Cellini

拍品描述

Cast after a model attributed to Jean-Jules Salmson (French, 1823-1902), circa 1900 The figure depicting Benvenuto Cellini, seated in a Savonarola-type stool, his head resting on one hand in contemplative pose; he is dressed in Renaissance costume with a bellted tunic and hose, his legs crossed at the ankles; at his side rests a circular shield in relief decorated with a Mannerist composition centered by a Gorgoneion and encircled by nude figures in combat, evocative of Renaissance parade armor associated with Benvenuto Cellini. Height of figure 16 inches (40.5 cm), width 12 1/2 inches (31.5 cm) Together with a gilt-bronze-mounted black marble pedestal. Height of pedestal 49 inches (124.5 cm), diameter 10 inches (25.5 cm). Footnote: This model represents the celebrated Renaissance artist Benvenuto Cellini, interpreted through the lens of 19th-century historicism. The composition is attributable to Jean-Jules Salmson (1823–1902), whose oeuvre frequently explored historical personalities rendered with psychological depth and narrative intent. Cellini renowned as both sculptor and goldsmith is here portrayed in a moment of introspection, emphasizing intellectual creativity over action. The relief shield incorporated into the composition is of particular iconographic significance. Centered by a Gorgoneion (Medusa head) and encircled by a densely animated procession of nude figures in violent motion, the design closely recalls the elaborate parade shields produced in Renaissance Italy, particularly those associated with Benvenuto Cellini and his contemporaries. Such objects, conceived as displays of artistic virtuosity rather than functional armor, frequently employed complex Mannerist compositions with mythological or allegorical overtones. Its inclusion here serves not merely as decorative enrichment but as a deliberate attribute identifying the sitter as Cellini, celebrated equally for his work as a sculptor and as a designer of ornamental arms and metalwork. The motif reinforces the 19th-century academic interpretation of Renaissance artistic genius, aligning with the historicizing approach characteristic of Jean-Jules Salmson. 品相： No condition report? Click below to request one. *Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact and Doyle New York shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. Please contact the specialist department to request further information or additional images that may be available. Request a condition report

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