BY ORAZIO ANDREONI, ROME, DATED 1886

Sculpting draperies and veils can be seen as proof of a sculptor’s technical mastery; and a few Italian artists have mastered this skill. Two of the most captivating examples are Giuseppe Sanmartino’s Veiled Christ (1753), which lies at the centre of the Sansevero Chapel in Naples and Antonio Corrandini’s bust of a Veiled Woman (1717-1725) in the Museo del Settecento Veneziano in Venice. Draped figures became popular for foreign visitors, one famous example being Raffaelle Monti’s Veiled Vestal Virgin (1846-47) which was commissioned by the 6th Duke of Devonshire and is currently in the collection of Chatsworth House.
The present marble of a Veiled Cupid by Orazio Andreoni displays distinct virtuosity in the rendering of the drapery, which appears so light and delicate while providing the sculpture with an impression of movement. Andreoni enjoyed an international reputation during his lifetime, and sent several works on exhibitions abroad including Glasgow (1888) and Berlin (1892).