A TERRACOTTA BUST OF A GENTLEMAN

Originally from Brescia, Gaetano Merchi left Italy for Saint Petersburg where he found himself under the patronage of Empress Catherine II. In 1777, he traveled to Paris where he studied at the Académie Royale of Painting and Sculpture and became known for his portraits of famous contemporary actresses. By 1795, Merchi had moved once again, this time to Madrid, where he became the court sculptor to King Charles IV and realized several portraits of important Spanish figures, including busts of the King and the painter Goya.