42

Ceroplastic depicting Girolamo Savonarola, under glass bell, Neapolitan area, 17th - 18th century

Height x diameter: 28 x 27 cm. Height with glass: 37 cm.
modelled in the round to depict Girolamo Savonarola in a half-length, three-quarter-length turn, as also shown on the label on the back of the base.
Ceroplastics like this one were made using beeswax and resins, which, after being molded, were painted with natural pigments to reproduce realistic tones. These works were commonly used to create religious figures, as in this case. The figure is placed on an internal support made of a rigid material (typically wood or metal around which the wax was modeled).
Furthermore, in Italian art production, especially in the central and southern regions, between the 17th and 18th centuries, there was a strong emphasis on highly detailed naturalism, influenced by Baroque style. For this reason, details were made from additional materials: for example, in this depiction, the eyes are made of glass, while the hair is created from real fabrics (usually silk), as are the garments. Additionally, the figures were often preserved in carved wooden cases or tabernacles with glass, which served both to protect them and to enhance their aesthetic value.
23/01/2025 14:04:24
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€ 4.000,00 / 6.000,00
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3.000,00 €
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Curiosities from European and Oriental art
Silvers, Ivories, Corals, Icons, and Wunderkammer

Palazzo Caetani Lovatelli, tue 25 February 2025
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