Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844) Danish, circa 1816-1819

signed on the reverse with the superimposed monogram AT F., on turned waisted socle

Count Nicholas and Princess Elisabeth Demidoff di San Donato;
Prince Anatole Demidoff and Princess Mathilde (nee Stroganoff) di San Donato;
Prince Paolo Demidoff and Princess Elena (nee Trubetskoi) di San Donato; 
Their daughter Princess Abamalek-Lazareff;
H.R.H.Prince Paul of Yugoslavia;
Sale of the contents of Villa Demidoff, Pratolino, Sothebys Florence 21-24 April1969 lot 194, as Adamo Tadolino;
Casa d'Aste Nuova Adma, Formigine, 13 October 2000 lot 332

Overall the condition of the bust is very good with some minor wear to the surface consistent with age. There are a few minor surface scratches above the monogram at the back. There are some areas of abrasion around the edge of the truncation including a minor chip to the proper left. There is a filled inclusion to the bottom of the neck at the proper left and a few other minor inclusions to the surface consistent with the material.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present bust was included in the sale of contents of the Villa Demidoff in Florence in 1969 when it was mistakenly catalogued as by Adamo Tadolini owing to a misinterpretation of the sculptor's monogram.  Sculpted between 1816 and 1819 Kai Sass records a further marble version of the bust in the Hermitage similarly inscribed and lists another reported version in the Naisjnij Tagill Museum.  Since the publication by Sass two others have been recorded: one in the Thorvaldsen museum file listed as in the Petrosawodsk Museum Karelia and believed to be an unsigned version from the Villa Demidoff sale in 1969 (lot 195) and another paired with his wife Elisabeth née Countess Stroganoff, present whereabouts unknown. Sensitively carved with fine attention to detail, especially in the treatment to the hair at the crown of the head, Sass argues that the bust must have been carved in Rome before 1819 when Demidoff was in his early forties.

The founder of the Demidoff fortune was Nikita Demidoff, born 1665 from a family of blacksmiths, who was ennobled by Peter the Great for his important role as an arms manufacturer, having completely reorganized the production of firearms in  Russia; the family owned significant mining interests in the Urals. His grandson, also Nikita, the father of Count Nikolai, travelled extensively and was the first member of his family to visit in Italy in 1772.

The present bust depicts Count Nikolai Nikititj Demidoff who was born in the family palace near St. Peterburg.  A member of the Imperial guard he became aide de camp to Count Potemkin in 1789 and participated in two campaigns against the Turks before becoming chamberlain to Catherine the Great in 1794.  Appointed  Russian Minister to the Tuscan Court in 1824 his main residence was the Villa San Donato in Florence. From that time the family played an important role in Florence later residing at the Villa Demidoff Pratolino on the outskirts of Florence. In recognition of Nicholas's philanthropic contributions to hospitals and other charitable institutions in Florence, the Grand Duke made him Count of San Donato and his good needs were later recognised by a major monument commissioned from Lorenzo Bartolini by Anatole Demidoff and which today stands in the Piazza Demidoff.


RELATED LITERATURE
E.Kai Sass, Thorvaldsens Portrætbuster, 3 vols, Copenhagen, 1963-1965, Vol. III pp.267-275  and plate. no. 70 where the author lists the original as missing