A Fine White Statuary Marble Figure Emblematic of Evening

Object Description

A Fine and Large White Statuary Marble Figure Emblematic of Evening.

By E. De Cori for Galleria Romanelli, Florence.

Signed ‘E. De Cori / Galerie Romanelli Flli / Florence’.

Italy, Circa 1900.

On a gilt-bronze black lacquered pedestal.

This beautiful nymph is carved as if suspended in mid-air. Cloudborne, with a crescent moon at her feet, and encircled by sunflowers. She raises her crossed arms as if wearily stretching, pulling her diaphanous robe around her head to shield her eyes from the settling sun. A single star set amongst the clouds foretells of her celestial journey as day gives way to night.

Object History

The sculptor E. De Cori is recorded to have worked for the Florentine sculpture studios, known as gallerias, of both Romanelli and Lapini, which flourished at the turn of the 20th century. Little information is recorded about him, but he might have been the same, or the brother of, Achille De Cori, who sculpted an effigy of Emilia Romanelli in 1895 for the Romanelli family chapel at The Sacred Doors Cemetery in Florence.

The Galleria Romanelli was established by Pasquale Romanelli (1812-1887) and continued by his son Raffaello Romanelli (1856–1928). Both were sculptors in their own right, but also employed other sculptors who retailed their work through the gallery. For this reason, it is not unusual to see Italian sculpture of the period bearing the name of the sculptor and the name of the gallery.

As was the practice of the gallerias, if a particular statue proved popular, subsequent examples would be made to order. Although no other examples of this statue can be traced, it is likely that such a beautiful composition was popular and more than one was carved. Fascinatingly, it is recorded that one was shown at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904 where it is photographed and titled ‘Evening’.

The St. Louis World’s Fair, officially called the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, was a major international event held in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1904 that drew over 19 million visitors. Art and industry from all nations was shown at the exhibition. An impressive display of Italian sculpture was presented by the Florentine studios, principally the gallerias Lapini and Romanelli, and the artists they represented, including Antonio Frilli and Vittorio Caradossi.

This exquisite statue is preserved in exceptional original condition. It retains its original finish and, miraculously, even the fingers of her outstretched hand are perfect.

Exhibited:
Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, Missouri, 1904.

The statue:
Height : 142 cm | 56 inches
Width : 52 cm | 20 inches
Depth : 43 cm | 17 inches
Weight : 190 kg | 419 lbs

The pedestal:
Height : 89 cm | 35 inches
Diameter : 56 cm | 22 inches
Weight : 75 kg | 163 lbs

Object Details