CIRCLE OF CARLO ALBACINI (C. 1760-1807), ROME, LATE 18TH CENTURY

Details

A PAIR OF MARBLE BUSTS OF TERPSICHORE AND MELPOMENE
CIRCLE OF CARLO ALBACINI (C. 1760-1807), ROME, LATE 18TH CENTURY
Each with a votive index plaque inscribed 'TERSICORE' and 'MELPOMENE' and on a circular marble socle
19 3/8 and 19 ¼ in. (49.3 and 48.7 cm.) high, overall

Literature

G. Vaughn, 'Albacini and his English Patrons', in Journal of the History of Collections, III, pp. 183-197.

Special notice

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Brought to you by

Donald Johnston

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Lot Essay

The daughters of Jupiter and Mnemosyne, Melpomene and Terpsichore were two of the nine Muses of dance and chorus. Melpomene was the muse of tragedy, and Terpsichore the muse of song and dance. Their present depictions bear close stylistic comparison with the work of Carlo Albacini. Albacini was one of the most prominent 18th century Roman sculptors supplying wealthy collectors with either highly restored antiquities, as he did for the King of Naples and Charles Townley, or independent works of art for Catherine the Great and Henry Blundell among others.

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