Italian, Venice, early 19th century

Ven House, Somerset;
its sale, Christie's London, Ven House, Somerset, 21-22 June 1999, lot 343;
private collection, United Kingdom

Overall the condition of the bust is good with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. The bust is composed in sections and stable original joints are visible. There has been some later restoration to some of the joints, including where the veined marble meets the scagliola at the proper left breast; through the mixed marble at the proper right breast; and a joint running through the serpentine marble at the crown of the head. There are a few further areas of restoration, including to the scagliola below the proper left breast. The black marble is covered with a lacquer, which has worn, particularly at the face, and is flaking slightly in areas, including at the chest and neck (front and back). There are a few small losses, including to the mixed marble at the proper left shoulder, and at the proper right breast. There are some smaller chips and losses, including to the scagliola at the proper right shoulder. The back of the bust has been left rough, and there is a paint coating. A section of scagliola at the back is made separately. There are chips to the grey marble base.
"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 taste for busts of noble blackamoors in varied attire and headdress carved from multicoloured marbles, alabasters and porphyry became increasingly popular during the seventeenth century as trade links with Africa and the Orient, as well as the initiation of the slave trade, coupled to provide the western world with new images of previously unknown races. The contrasting effect of their dark skin with vibrantly coloured drapery resulted in powerfully arresting images that were collected and disseminated throughout Europe by Grand Tourists who visited Italy and particularly Venice, the maritime capital that became synonymous with the genre. These busts constituted important decorative components of the residences of 18th and early 19th century connoisseurs, demonstrating not only their owner's taste but also their cultured and extensive travels. The workshops normally produced them as pendants, utilising whatever semi-precious marbles were available. For example, three pairs of one familiar model of a Nubian chief and his wife have appeared at auction over the years: Sotheby's 29 June 1964, lot 133; Christie's 8 Dec 1981, lot 132 and 3 Nov 1994, lot 314. In each case the same basic format is adhered to but the use and finish of the marbles is different.

The present bust is likewise known in a closely similar version in the Moorish room of the Yusupov Palace in St. Petersburg, together with a pendant male. Another pair of the same type is said to be in the Hermitage. In the context of the Yusupov Palace, the present bust of a north African noblewoman was intended to lend credibility to the architectural decoration of the room, which included an onyx fireplace and richly inlaid marble floors and walls.  Russia's fascination with the blackamoor can probably be traced to Peter the Great's adoption of an African pageboy as his godson. Taking the name Abraham Hanibal (or Ibrahim Petrovich Gannibal, 1696-1781), he spent much of his life in Estonia and St. Petersburg and was the great-grandfather of one of Russia's greatest poets, Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837), whose works include an unfinished novel entitled The Blackamoor of Peter the Great (1827). Prince Dimitri Yusupov was himself an advisor to Peter the Great and his grandson, who became one of the Empress Elizabeth's favourites, would have certainly known Hanibal, who by then was serving Elizabeth in overseeing the building of the Ladoga canal, the fortifications of Kronstadt as well as being governor of Reval (Talinn).

RELATED LITERATURE
D.Gnammankou, Abraham Hanibal. L'Aieul noir de Pouchkine, Paris 1997