Giuseppe Moretti

Overall the condition of the marble is very good. There is some minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There are minor chips to the flowers.
"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."

This lively and impressive bust is filled with movement as the bacchante throws her head back and twists a torso clothed in rippling fur. The sculptor revels in the description of textures and details, with fur against skin and grapes falling through soft tresses.

After an early training in Florence and Carrara, Moretti set sail for the United States arriving in New York in 1888. He quickly won an important commission, working on the Vanderbilt "Marble House" in Rhode Island. Moretti completed major works in Pittsburgh, which he called "The Athens of the New World" and in Alabama, where his massive Vulcan, the largest cast-iron statue in the world, still stands. Moretti was a popular, colourful character, and he became something of a celebrity during his lifetime, numbering amongst his friends stars such as Enrico Caruso and gaining an international reputation.

RELATED LITERATURE
A. Panzetta, Nuovo Dizionario degli scultori italiana dell'ottocento e del primo novecento, vol 2, Turin, 2003, vol. II, p.590; J. Willard, 'Giuseppe Moretti' in Alabama Heritage, No. 20, Spring 1991