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Lot Essay
Meticulously carved in the round with life-like detail, this youthful depiction of Christopher Columbus, looking to the West in a foreshadowing of this travels, almost certainly debuted at the International Exhibition of Santiago, Chile in 1875. Serving as a symbol of freedom and determination, the marble reveals Zocchi’s expert mastery of detail, which further extends to the bas-relief panels chronicling his expedition on an the imposing portor plinth. The figure itself is a testament to Zocchi’s virtuoso talent, as the pensive gaze of the subject, the richness of Columbus’s brocade coat and realistic carving of sea-life on the rockwork base infuse life into this exceptional work.
Born in Florence in 1835, Emilio Zocchi studied under Torrini and Costalli. Though sculpting a myriad of commercial works and bas-reliefs, the artist was celebrated for his series of young historical figures through the 1870s, including Young Michelangelo depicted at work perched upon the Medici shield and Young Benjamin Franklin now in Philadelphia. Like his contemporaries, Zocchi was a frequent participant during the Exhibition era, submitting works most notably to the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876 where his work Bacchus was among his playful the 'specimens of that flexible, winning, seductive treatment of marble which made the Italian sculpture at the Centennial a revelation' (Watson, The Masterpieces of the International Exhibition, Philadelphia, 1876, pp. 114-5).
Born in Florence in 1835, Emilio Zocchi studied under Torrini and Costalli. Though sculpting a myriad of commercial works and bas-reliefs, the artist was celebrated for his series of young historical figures through the 1870s, including Young Michelangelo depicted at work perched upon the Medici shield and Young Benjamin Franklin now in Philadelphia. Like his contemporaries, Zocchi was a frequent participant during the Exhibition era, submitting works most notably to the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876 where his work Bacchus was among his playful the 'specimens of that flexible, winning, seductive treatment of marble which made the Italian sculpture at the Centennial a revelation' (Watson, The Masterpieces of the International Exhibition, Philadelphia, 1876, pp. 114-5).