A WHITE MARBLE BUST OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE AS FIRST CONSUL OF FRANCE

INCISED GAMBACCIANI SCOLPI, SECOND HALF 19TH CENTURY

Details

A WHITE MARBLE BUST OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE AS FIRST CONSUL OF FRANCE
INCISED GAMBACCIANI SCOLPI, SECOND HALF 19TH CENTURY
The head turned to dexter, wearing a jacket with oak-leaf collar, emerging from a spread eagle perched on a double-torch, on an associated waisted circular foot and square base, the reverse incisced 'Giambocciani Scolpi'; on a later stained beechwood base with stepped spreading sides, with inscribed brass plaque
32 in. (82 cm.) high, including base
Inscription to plaque NAPOLEON BONAPARTE AS FIRST CONSUL OF FRANCE SCULPTED IN 1800 BY GAMBACCIANI FORMERLY IN THE COLLECTION OWNED BY CARDINAL BONAPARTE OF ROME, A NEPHEW OF THE FAMOUS EMPEROR.

Provenance

(Possibly) Cardinal Bonaparte, Rome.

Lot Essay

Lucien-Louis-Joséph Napoléon, Cardinal Bonaparte (1828 - 1895), was the son of Charles-Lucien-Jules-Laurent Bonaparte (d. 1857), Prince of Canino and Musignano, and grandson of Lucien Bonaparte (d. 1840), brother of Napoleon I. His father was a highly regarded ornithologist, who settled in Rome, where he aligned himself with the anti-Austrian party. He became Vice-President of the Assembly in 1848 but had to leave Italy on the fall of the Republic merely one year later, while Lucien-Louis-Joséph was able to stay as he had entered the clergy. He was ordained priest in 1857 and kept a quiet life. However, after Napoleon III of France sent part of his army to defend the Vatican against the fledgling Italian kingdom in 1867, which saved the state, Lucien-Louis-Joséph was elevated to cardinal for the monastery of Lucien Bonaparte in 1868. With the intervention of Napoleon III he was finally made cardinal of the Santa Pudenzia and later San Lorenzo-In-Lueina.

More from The C. Ruxton and Audrey B. Love Collection: Important

View All