39 - A 17th-century Roman Baroque sculptor and follower of Gian Lorenzo Bernini An Important Pair of Putti This beautiful pair of bronze sculptures, of considerable size, seems to embody Bernini’s artistic vision, which—along with that of his Bolognese counterpart Alessandro Algardi (1595–1654), dominated the emergence of the Baroque in Rome in the early 17th century, with models that would spread throughout Europe in various forms and stylistic variations. The two cherubs, which were originally intended to support coats of arms or form part of a more elaborate scenic and architectural ensemble, are executed with great technical skill and refined artistry, featuring a naturalistic rendering of their plump flesh that blends into the gentleness of their faces, framed by broad, neatly arranged locks of hair. The eyes, with pupils outlined in the manner of Bernini, twinkle vivaciously as they gaze toward the sky, and the lips seem to part in a smile of heavenly bliss. The models that inspired them appear to be those of the numerous depictions adorning the upper portion of St. Peter’s Baldachin—in that gilded empyrean depicting the “Glory of Paradise”—a teeming array of angelic figures who, amid the clouds, sing the praises of the Most High. Our bronzes thus stand as an exemplary and precious testament to that era of artistic and cultural renewal that was 17th-century Baroque Rome. Alt. tot. 181 cm, colonna con basamento cm 35x35x100 Bronzo fuso, cesellato e patinato La coppia di putti faceva probabilmente parte di una composizione di maggiori dimensioni, infatti, la forma appiattita sotto le gambe fa pensare che poggiassero su altro supporto. Ottime condizioni conservative, lievi consunzioni alla patina, difetti di fusione sulle schiene dei due. Basi in marmo non coeve, cornucopie in bronzo di probabile epoca successiva. Sbeccature lungo i bordi delle colonne, graffi e segni di consunzione. Sbeccature sui bordi delle parti in marmo bianco. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Q7MzfFxaVPJXFCoCeGp70LwVLuoPBJ4U