Lot Essay
Despite the somewhat distressed nature of the polychromy, this bust is perhaps most desirable for the very reason that the surface remains so untouched. One is even able to see the manner in which the sculptor has used real leather bands, laid across the surface of the wood and then gilded. Stylistically, the bust is related to sculptors such as Francesco di Valdambrino, who worked in Siena and the surrounding area in the 15th century.