Naples, third quarter of the 19th century - Lot 38

Naples, third quarter of the 19th century Presumed portrait of Berenice or Artemis, after the Villa dei Papiri antique Black patina bronze bust Bears the founder's mark "P. Masulli / R. Albergo" (for Pietro Masulli / Real Albergo) on the back of the left shoulder. left shoulder Total height: 73.5 cm, red marble base height: 20.5 cm Stains and patina wear Reference work : -Naples, 1st century AC, Berenice or Artemisia, bronze, Naples, Museo archeologico nazionale, n°inv. 5592. Related literature: -Chiurazzi fonderie, ceramica, marmeria Napoli..., cataloguo compilato by Salvatore Chiurazzi, Naples, 1929, model listed under no. 8; -Luisa Fucito, Fonderia artistica Chiurazzi: la forma dell'arte, Naples, Altrastampa, 2001, p. 14. The antique model of this bust, found at Herculaneum on April 10, 1754, is believed to be the portrait of Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphus. However, this attribution is disputed, as the portrait does not correspond on the coins. It could be a portrait of the goddess Artemis. Our bronze bust bears the signature of sculptor and founder Pietro Masulli. According to Neapolitan archives, in 1862 he cast the bronze plaques adorning the monument to Giambattisto Vico commissioned by Leopold of Bourbon, Count of Syracuse, featuring allegories of History, Tragedy, Astronomy and Literature. Passionate about classical sculpture and teacher at the Naples Academy of Fine Arts, Masulli set up a casting workshop and foundry and foundry at the Real Albergo dei Poveri. Specializing in the reproduction of masterpieces, this foundry distinguished itself by the high quality of its castings, and enjoyed great success success in Italy and abroad until Masulli's death in 1876. As early as 1870, Gennaro Chiurazzi, a pupil of Pietro Masulli, founded his own foundry in Naples in order to his master's tradition and know-how into a more industrial dimension.