A GROUP OF SIX FIGURES

NAPLES, MID-18TH CENTURY

Details

A GROUP OF SIX FIGURES
Naples, Mid-18th Century
Comprising figures of a market woman in a blue and yellow apron, the 'Young Virgin' with a billowing blue veil and cream and red silk costume, the 'Spinster' in brown cotton robes holding a spinstaff, a village woman in blue and cream silk costume, the 'Hunchback' in brown and tan costume, and another market woman with cream lace veil and multi-colored costume, on later wooden stands, together with three baskets and a head of cauliflower
8¾in. (22cm.) to 13½in. (34cm.) high

Lot Essay

Especially popular among presepio are those figures that depict the deformed and down-trodden. The present figure of the 'Hunchback' is one such figure that, although unattributable at this time, is perhaps one of the more quintessential figures in this collection. For further discussion of such figures, see A. Griffo, Les Crèches Napolitaines, Paris, 1996, pp. 126-131. The tall figure of the village woman is possibly attributable to the workshop of Angelo Viva (1748-1837). For comparison, see the figure of a 'Georgina' sold Semenzato, Rome, 1 December 1999, lot 98, which shares similiar facial structure, modelling of hair and expression.

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