Italian School Artist, Nude Sculpture, Carved White Marble, 20th Century

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Italian School, first quarter of the 20th century. Carved white marble sculpture depicting a young nude woman seated on a … Read more Italian School, first quarter of the 20th century. Carved white marble sculpture depicting a young nude woman seated on a cushion, gently gathering her hair. The work rests on a base of Rouge Griotte marble. Dimensions: Height 65 cm (25.6 in), Width 33 cm (13 in), Depth 33 cm (13 in). Presents minor restorations to the fingers. This exquisite sculpture belongs to the neoclassical-naturalist current that flourished in early 20th-century Italy, extending the academic tradition of the Ottocento with a more sensual and intimate language. Themes of female introspection and toilette were among the most cherished in Italian sculpture of the period, cultivated in the studios of Rome, Florence, and Carrara, where masterful marble carving met the refined aesthetic of 19th-century statuary. Artists such as Giovanni De Martino, Ettore Ximenes, and Pietro Canonica explored similar compositions—balancing classical idealism with modern sensibility. The purity of modeling, compositional harmony, and polished surface reflect the influence of late academicism and European figurative symbolism, in dialogue with the emerging realism of the early 20th century. The Rouge Griotte marble base adds both visual contrast and elegance, enhancing the sculpture’s refined decorative presence. A superb example of early 20th-century Italian marble sculpture, combining technical mastery, classical grace, and Art Deco intimacy. See less