Italian, Florence, circa 1500

William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor (1848-1919), Hever Castle, Kent, United Kingdom, circa 1910;
and thence by family descent to William Waldorf Astor III, 4th Viscount Astor (b. 1951);
his sale, Sotheby's, The Hever Castle Collection, 6 May 1983, lot 270;
James and Marilyn Alsdorf, Chicago, United States of America;
their sale, Sotheby's New York, 29 January 1999, lot 53;
European private collection

Overall the condition of the terracotta is good with dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There are remnants of old glazes to the surface, which are flaked throughout. The most visible glaze is a cream glaze (evident particularly in the face), and there is a dark blue glaze visible to the reverse. There are some chips to the edges of the bust, including to both shoulders at the front. There is a line (which appears to be a mark) running horizontally across the neck. There are also some very fine fissures. These are mostly evident in the head and neck, in particular at the centre of the forehead going into the hair. There is dark spotting (probably dirt) to the surface, particularly in the hair and crevices.
"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 serenely beautiful terracotta Christ is a rare departure from the model of Jesus inspired by Verrocchio's famous Christ and St. Thomas group from Orsanmichele (1467-1483), which gained unprecedented popularity in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. It exhibits a high degree of delicacy and sensitivity in its modelling, which complements Christ's calm, placid, gaze and simple, structured, clothing. Note, in particular, the manner in which the moustache and beard terminate in symmetrical tufts at either side of the mouth and chin, creating a wonderful chiaroscuro effect.

The model finds few clear comparables, indicating that it would have been relatively unusual at the time it was made. In terms of composition, particularly in respect to the eyes, moustache and hair, which falls onto the shoulders in trails of curls, a good comparison is found in Giovanni della Robbia's Christ in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (inv. no. 476-1864). Note also the almost identical clothing: the chemise fixed by a clasp at the collar, and the mantle over Christ's left shoulder. It seems possible that the present model may have been produced by a sculptor associated with the Della Robbia family. The distinctive hairstyle, with a centre parting turning into bunched curls, can be seen again in two late 15th-century Florentine terracotta busts in the Victoria and Albert Museum (inv. nos. 4497-1858 and 4485-1858).

The present bust is distinguished by its provenance, coming from the collection of the greatest Anglo-American aristocratic family of the 20th century, the Astors. It was acquired by the 1st Viscount Astor and kept at Hever Castle, traditional seat of the Boleyn family, until it was sold in 1983.

RELATED LITERATURE
J. Pope-Hennessy, Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1964, vol. i, pp. 205-207, 233-234, nos. 191, 193 and 232

In 1983 this lot was accompanied by a thermoluminescence test (no. 381F10) stating that this bust was fired between 320 and 480 years ago.