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
eMuseum ID723560
EmbARK ObjectID12473
TMS Source ID1586
Last Updated8/9/24
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.
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.
BibliographyNotesAllan Marquand. Della Robbias in America (Princeton, 1912), p. 25. (as "Bust of Marietta Strozzi"; as likely not by Desiderio da Settignano; as likely not glazed by Luca della Robbia)
Joseph Duveen. Remarks. Unpublished manuscript. (Boston, 16 February 1927), p. 1. (as "Bust of Marietta Strozzi"; "genuine" Della Robbia; "[MacLagan] is entirely wrong...and I shall tell him so")
Gilbert Wendel Longstreet and Morris Carter. General Catalogue (Boston, 1935), p. 236. (as "Bust of a Young Lady" in the style of Desiderio da Settignano)
Rollin van N. Hadley et al. "Berenson and Mrs. Gardner: The Museum Years." Fenway Court (1974), pp. 10-11. (as "now considered 19th century")
John Pope-Hennessy. "The Forging of Italian Renaissance Sculpture." Apollo (1974), p. 260, no. 53. (as by or after Bastianini; after a bust by Antonio Rosellino)
Cornelius C. Vermeule III et al. Sculpture in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston, 1977), p. 169, no. 216. (as Giovanni Bastianini?, about 1860)
Rollin van N. Hadley (ed.). The Letters of Bernard Berenson and Isabella Stewart Gardner 1887-1924 (Boston, 1987), pp. 448, 457, 460.
David Sox. Unmasking the Forger: The Dossena Deception (New York, 1987), p. 131. (as Giovanni Bastianini)
Arnold Victor Coonis. "The Most Elusive Woman in Renaissance Art: A Portrait of Marietta Strozzi." Artibus et Historiae, vol. 30 (2009), pp. 58, 60, fig. 22. (as attributed to Giovanni Bastianini, about 1860)
Joseph Duveen. Remarks. Unpublished manuscript. (Boston, 16 February 1927), p. 1. (as "Bust of Marietta Strozzi"; "genuine" Della Robbia; "[MacLagan] is entirely wrong...and I shall tell him so")
Gilbert Wendel Longstreet and Morris Carter. General Catalogue (Boston, 1935), p. 236. (as "Bust of a Young Lady" in the style of Desiderio da Settignano)
Rollin van N. Hadley et al. "Berenson and Mrs. Gardner: The Museum Years." Fenway Court (1974), pp. 10-11. (as "now considered 19th century")
John Pope-Hennessy. "The Forging of Italian Renaissance Sculpture." Apollo (1974), p. 260, no. 53. (as by or after Bastianini; after a bust by Antonio Rosellino)
Cornelius C. Vermeule III et al. Sculpture in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston, 1977), p. 169, no. 216. (as Giovanni Bastianini?, about 1860)
Rollin van N. Hadley (ed.). The Letters of Bernard Berenson and Isabella Stewart Gardner 1887-1924 (Boston, 1987), pp. 448, 457, 460.
David Sox. Unmasking the Forger: The Dossena Deception (New York, 1987), p. 131. (as Giovanni Bastianini)
Arnold Victor Coonis. "The Most Elusive Woman in Renaissance Art: A Portrait of Marietta Strozzi." Artibus et Historiae, vol. 30 (2009), pp. 58, 60, fig. 22. (as attributed to Giovanni Bastianini, about 1860)
ProvenanceNotesSent to Isabella Stewart Gardner by the art dealer Duveen Brothers, New York in about May 1909, unprompted. Perhaps sent in reconciliation after offering her a painting by Castagnio and later selling it to the rival collector J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in November 1907.
Purchased by Isabella Stewart Gardner (as a portarit bust of Marietta Strozzi by Desiderio da Settignano and glazed by Luca della Robbia) from Duveen Brothers, New York on 6 May 1910 for £4,000, through the American art historian Bernard Berenson (1865-1959).
Purchased by Isabella Stewart Gardner (as a portarit bust of Marietta Strozzi by Desiderio da Settignano and glazed by Luca della Robbia) from Duveen Brothers, New York on 6 May 1910 for £4,000, through the American art historian Bernard Berenson (1865-1959).
