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Lot Essay
SIR HENRY TATE (d. 1899) AND PARK HILL, STREATHAM COMMON
The figural group depicting 'Paul et Virginie’, attributed to Professore Giuseppe Lazzarini (d. 1895), was formerly in the private collection of Sir Henry Tate, first baronet, sugar refiner and founder of the Tate Gallery, London, at his London mansion, Park Hill, Streatham Common. Sir Henry, despite leading an ascetic lifestyle of modesty and discretion, took a great interest in art and built up an extensive collection with many of his paintings eventually forming the basis of the Tate’s collection. The present sculpture remained at Park Hill until the death of Sir Henry’s second wife, Dame Amy Tate when the contents of the house were sold in 1920 (Douglas Young & Co., 16th February and Following Days). The sculpture was listed on the second day’s sale, as lot 468, 'White marble group, Youth carrying a Maiden, 40in. high, on scagliola pedestal’. The sculpture was subsequently reunited with the Tate family when it was acquired by Agnes Tate, Sir Henry’s granddaughter, and her husband, 'Jack’ Madden, for Hilton Park, Co. Monaghan, Ireland, possibly from the aforementioned 1920 sale.
GIUSEPPE LAZZARINI
Member of an old Carrarese dynasty of sculptors, Lazzerini entered the Carrara Accademia di Belle Arti in 1848 and studied under Ferdinando Pelliccia. In 1853, his marble relief Patroclus Slaying Sarpedon won him a scholarship to Rome, enabling him to study in the workshop of the celebrated sculptor Pietrò Tenerani (d. 1869). After 1859, Lazzerini returned to Carrara to work in the family studio in the Corso Rosselli, taking over its running on the death of his half-brother, Alessandro, in 1862. Reflecting the strong Neoclassical influence of Tenerani and, in turn, of the latter's own mentors, Bartolini (d. 1850) and Thorwaldsen (d. 1844), his work included both his own wide range of subjects, as well as compositions for other Italian and foreign sculptors. His long career culminated in his appointment as Director of the Carrara Academy from 1889 to 1893 and Honorary Professor of the latter in 1894.
'PAUL ET VIRGINIE'
The enormously successful romance 'Paul et Virginie' was first published in 1787 by the French naturalist and writer, Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre. The story tells of the idyllic upbringing of two inseparable children living au naturel on the island of Mauritius and how their paradise is shattered by Virginie's forced journey to France, supposedly to inherit a fortune and receive a ladylike education. After years of maltreatment Virginie vows to return to her mother and beloved Paul, only to be shipwrecked in a hurricane just of the island as Paul tries in vain to swim out to save her.
A life size model depicting the same subject by Charles Adrien Prosper d’Epinay (d. 1914) sold Christie’s, London, 22 September 2011, lot 150 (£313,250).
The figural group depicting 'Paul et Virginie’, attributed to Professore Giuseppe Lazzarini (d. 1895), was formerly in the private collection of Sir Henry Tate, first baronet, sugar refiner and founder of the Tate Gallery, London, at his London mansion, Park Hill, Streatham Common. Sir Henry, despite leading an ascetic lifestyle of modesty and discretion, took a great interest in art and built up an extensive collection with many of his paintings eventually forming the basis of the Tate’s collection. The present sculpture remained at Park Hill until the death of Sir Henry’s second wife, Dame Amy Tate when the contents of the house were sold in 1920 (Douglas Young & Co., 16th February and Following Days). The sculpture was listed on the second day’s sale, as lot 468, 'White marble group, Youth carrying a Maiden, 40in. high, on scagliola pedestal’. The sculpture was subsequently reunited with the Tate family when it was acquired by Agnes Tate, Sir Henry’s granddaughter, and her husband, 'Jack’ Madden, for Hilton Park, Co. Monaghan, Ireland, possibly from the aforementioned 1920 sale.
GIUSEPPE LAZZARINI
Member of an old Carrarese dynasty of sculptors, Lazzerini entered the Carrara Accademia di Belle Arti in 1848 and studied under Ferdinando Pelliccia. In 1853, his marble relief Patroclus Slaying Sarpedon won him a scholarship to Rome, enabling him to study in the workshop of the celebrated sculptor Pietrò Tenerani (d. 1869). After 1859, Lazzerini returned to Carrara to work in the family studio in the Corso Rosselli, taking over its running on the death of his half-brother, Alessandro, in 1862. Reflecting the strong Neoclassical influence of Tenerani and, in turn, of the latter's own mentors, Bartolini (d. 1850) and Thorwaldsen (d. 1844), his work included both his own wide range of subjects, as well as compositions for other Italian and foreign sculptors. His long career culminated in his appointment as Director of the Carrara Academy from 1889 to 1893 and Honorary Professor of the latter in 1894.
'PAUL ET VIRGINIE'
The enormously successful romance 'Paul et Virginie' was first published in 1787 by the French naturalist and writer, Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre. The story tells of the idyllic upbringing of two inseparable children living au naturel on the island of Mauritius and how their paradise is shattered by Virginie's forced journey to France, supposedly to inherit a fortune and receive a ladylike education. After years of maltreatment Virginie vows to return to her mother and beloved Paul, only to be shipwrecked in a hurricane just of the island as Paul tries in vain to swim out to save her.
A life size model depicting the same subject by Charles Adrien Prosper d’Epinay (d. 1914) sold Christie’s, London, 22 September 2011, lot 150 (£313,250).