Bust of a Young Girl
sculptor
Giovanni Bastianini
(Florence, 1830 - 1868, Florence)
Dateabout 1860
Place MadeFlorence, Tuscany, Italy, Europe
MediumWhite glazed Terracotta
Dimensions57 cm (22 7/16 in.)
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Accession numberS27e15
Status
Not on viewWeb CommentaryCollectors of the late 19th century craved Renaissance art of all types, terracotta sculpture being no exception. Because genuine works were rare and often in poor condition, unscrupulous artists made objects in the style of the Renaissance to deceive collectors.
On a few occasions, Isabella Gardner fell victim to this practice. To our eyes, this portrait of a beautiful young woman looks extremely graceful and rather modern. It was made by a sculptor specializing in stone and clay, Giovanni Bastianini (1830–1868), who claimed to have made work inspired by the Renaissance, rather than fakes intended to mislead. However, he worked under contract to a dealer who sold Bastianini’s sculptures as works of the 15th century. Major museums and collectors were deceived until a jealous dealer revealed the scheme, creating an international scandal.
Isabella Gardner bought this bust in 1909 as the work of the famous Renaissance sculptor Luca della Robbia. It was recommended by Bernard Berenson and acquired from his partner, the dealer Joseph Duveen, for the enormous sum of $20,000. Shortly afterwards it was discovered to be a work of the 19th century. Even after the forgery was revealed, Gardner left the object in place – her initial fondness for it apparently undiminished by scholarship.
Id723560
Last Updated8/9/24
EmbARK ObjectID12473
Source ID1586
