possibly attributable to Giovanni Baratta (Italian, 1670-1747)
her head turned to dexter, her loosely tied coiffure with long trailing chignon, dressed with a jewelled diadem, her shoulders clad in drapery, wearing a ribbon tied heart locket, raised on a later square socle and column pedestal, the bust 74.5cm high, the plinth 88cm high, 162cm high overall.

Footnotes

Provenance

Formerly the property of the Duke of Aveyro, thence by descent
El Retiro, Churriana, Málaga Spain, the present lot removed prior to the sale of the villa and private walled courtyard garden from an exterior façade wall, adjacent to the famous national gardens and partland

By repute and family tradition thought to be by the hand of the architect Juan Bautista Sachetti (Italian, 1690-1764) and possibly a work originally intended for the Palacio Real, Madrid.

The handling of the face and drapery to the offered lot is reminiscent of examples of heads and torsos of angels and female figures by sculptors working in the manner of the celebrated sculptor Alessandro Algardi (Italian 1598-1654).

Although Sachetti was evidently commissioned to provide marble sculptural ornaments during his tenure working on the Placio Real, it is possible that the the present lot may have been commissioned by his master, the architect Filippo Juvara (Italian, 1678-1736). As Juvara is known to have commissioned a large body of sculptural and architectural elements including two reliefs of Minerva and Mars for the Royal Palace of La Granja de San lldefonso in Segovia, Spain from the sculptor Giovanni Baratta (Italian, 1640-1747) it is possible that the offered lot may have originated from the same source . In addition Sachetti also worked at Segovia so doubtless would have come into contact with Baratta and as such he may subsequently have worked with him on his later commission at the Palacio Real.

Related Literature
El Retiro, Inventario, 6th May 1966, Listed on the main Staircase, No. 93 'A lady with a diadem of pearls in marble' - which may be the bust of Venus before she was moved to the exterior facade wall OR No. 94 'A lady with a diadem and bodice for a masque' perhaps a pair for the current lot, now missing or since weathered away in the garden.

Photographs of the bust in the private walled garden at the villa are featured in the following publications:
Blanco y Negro, Madrid, 25 April 1970, ref. El Retiro (Malaga), p.6
Country Life, 12 January 1984, ref. Day-Trip to a Spanish Garden- I, pp. 74-76

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Italian School, early 18th century: A carved marble bust of a maiden, probably depicting Venus or an allegory of love possibly attributable to Giovanni Baratta (Italian, 1670-1747)

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Michael Lake