Large Carrara marble group of Virgin, Child and The Baptist signed P. Romanelli

Large Carrara marble group of Virgin, Child and The Baptist signed P. Romanelli
Italian, 19th Century
Figure: height, 170cm, width 70cm, depth 40cm
Base: height 93.5cm, width 59.5cm, depth 43cm
 
Executed in stunning Carrara marble, this exceptional sculpture is signed for the Florentine artist Pasquale Romanelli. Depicting a lifesize group of the Virgin, Child, and St John the Baptist, this religious work, toned down with regards to the symbolism, is a beautiful figurative sculpture of mother and child, with sensitively carved gestures and expressions.
 
A leading nineteenth century Florentine sculptor, Pasquale Romanelli (Italian, 1812-1887) was an apprentice of Lorenzo Bartolini, and later co-found the Romanelli gallery which is still in operation today. He was acclaimed during his lifetime for his religious and mythological artworks, and his workshop often adapted and adapts Classical and Renaissance artworks into sculpture of various mediums. The exact model of this work, if there is such an inspiration, is not clear, the humble and subtle religiosity of the work suggests a more original piece. It is mounted on a fine Neoclassical marble base.
 
Artist/Maker: Pasquale Romanelli