Object Description
This is a striking large antique gilt bronze figural sculpture titled “The Water Carrier” (L’acquaiolo) by Vincenzo Gemito, (Italian 1852-1929), dating from Circa 1880.
The bronze is modelled as a nude boy holding a water pot and cup, mounted on a decorative rectangular grey marble base in the form of a fountain with a Neptune mask and spout with a trough below.
This high quality hot cast solid bronze was produced using the traditional ‘lost wax’ process.
The attention to detail is absolutely fantastic and the sculpture is extremely life-like.
Condition:
In really excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 65 cm x Width 25 cm x Depth 28 cm
Weight 22.2 kg
Dimensions in inches:
Height 2 foot, 2 inches x Width 10 inches x Depth 11 inches
Weight 48.9 lbs
Vincenzo Gemito (Italian 1852-1929)
exhibited a sculpture of a young fisherboy at the Salon in Paris in 1877 (‘Il Pescatore’, the bronze now in the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence). The success of this work encouraged him to continue in this genre, giving his models more expressive poses. He created this statuette in Naples, gaining inspiration from the cheeky children on the street, nicknamed ‘scugnizzo’. Gemito was one of the sculptors in the second half of the 19th century known as the ‘Neo-Florentines’ who took their inspiration from the Italian Renaissance, particularly from the sculptures of Verrocchio, Donatello and Giambologna. This work follows in the tradition of the ‘Fisherman dancing the Tarantella’ by Francisque Duret (Louvre) and of the ‘Young Neapolitan Fisherboy’ by Rude (Louvre). However, it also draws on ancient Roman statuary, such as the numerous bronze fauns with slender bodies discovered in the ruins of the luxury villas of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Our reference: A3941