Rare reliquary bust of a Franciscan saint, with carved and gilded wooden bust and gilded cartapesta head. Wearing a simple monastic habit with a raised collar and indented braces, the saint presents a massive face with a severe expression treated like a portrait: tonsured hair, wrinkled forehead, small almond-shaped eyes emphasized by crow's feet, strong nose, emaciated cheeks, tight mouth with a slightly fleshy lower lip, wide jaw. Removable head with a small square opening at the back, closed by a gilded wooden (beech) door, formerly fitted with a lock. Suspension rings on the sides of the head. Tuscany, second half of the 15th century H. 40.5 cm - L. 41.5 cm Base upholstered in pink silk velvet (worn) (minor damage and missing parts) The severity of this bust's forehead is fascinatingly realistic, reminiscent of certain busts of dignitaries from the Florentine Quattrocento period. The poverty of the materials, wood and cartapesta, offset by the thick gilding, is probably the choice of a community of Franciscans who took vows of poverty in accordance with their patron saint. However, the skilful use of this technique did not prevent the bust from taking on a certain preciousness in imitation of a piece of goldsmith's work. The use of papier-mâché has made it possible to obtain a hollowed-out head to preserve the relic, which would not have been possible in a piece of wood. Florentine artists had mastered the art of making sculptures in stucco or cartapesta, a technique that had the advantage of being inexpensive and light. Provenance : - Sale Paris, Hôtel Drouot, Me Ader, December 7, 2009, exp. Raud, lot 165, as Italian work late 16th/early 17th century