.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The present bust by Pietro Calvi (d.1884) of a maiden emblematic of Spring is possibly an earlier version of Primavera - one of five busts presented to the city of Naples in 1877 - Primavera, Mariuccia, Othello, Selika and Gennaro - as well as a statue of Ariadne, (sold Christie's, New York, 12 April 2007, lot 115, $90,000). The present example is closely related to two busts by the artist, sold Christie's, London, 29 March 2007, lots 114 and 115, described respectively as representative of Spring and Autumn. These busts and the present example depict floral, foliate and fruit-wreathed young women with plunging décolletage, and together with very similar socle suggest that they comprise part of a Four Seasons series.
Calvi, born in Milan, was educated at the Accademia and later studied under Giovanni Seleroni. He achieved international recognition during the last quarter of the 19th century and exhibited widely in Europe, most notably at the Royal Academy in London between 1872 and 1883. He was known for both his work in marble and in bronze, and frequently combined the two with great success. Calvi often drew his subjects from the arts, particularly from the opera and Shakespeare. He sculpted figures which now decorate Milan Cathedral and the Galleria Vittoria Emmanuel.
Calvi, born in Milan, was educated at the Accademia and later studied under Giovanni Seleroni. He achieved international recognition during the last quarter of the 19th century and exhibited widely in Europe, most notably at the Royal Academy in London between 1872 and 1883. He was known for both his work in marble and in bronze, and frequently combined the two with great success. Calvi often drew his subjects from the arts, particularly from the opera and Shakespeare. He sculpted figures which now decorate Milan Cathedral and the Galleria Vittoria Emmanuel.