Pasquale Romanelli

Overall the condition of the marble is good, with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. The quality of the carving is very good. There are a few minor areas of restoration at the woman's back; proper left side and shoulder; and also around Cupid's proper left shoulder and arm. Cupid's proper left wing and foot appear to be reattached (either in the studio or subsequently). There are some chips to the feathers of the arrows and a few small chips and abrasions around the edge of the terrasse. The column is in good condition with minor wear, including a few small chips and residues of white paint.
"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 Florentine sculptor Pasquale Romanelli achieved an international reputation for his finely carved mythological and biblical marble figures. Romanelli began his training at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence under Luigi Pampaloni but was soon taught by the foremost Tuscan neoclassical sculptor, Lorenzo Bartolini. Finding Bartolini's favour, he went on to become his collaborator and, upon the master's death in 1850, the successor of his studio. Romanelli’s mythological and allegorical compositions were highly prized by a cosmopolitan clientele, and he exhibited select models in Paris. In addition to collectors' marbles, Romanelli executed numerous important commissions for monuments, such as those to Vittorio Fossombroni in Arezzo, Masi in Pavia, and Demidoff in Florence. After Romanelli's death in 1887, his son Raffaello and grandson Romano continued his legacy which lives on to the present day; the Romanelli studio, now a museum, remains a rare survival in Florence.

The present marble group is an enchanting example of the Florentine habit of combining classical subjects with the playful sentimentality of genre pieces. 

RELATED LITERATURE
A. Panzetta, Nuovo Dizionario degli scultori italiani dell’ottocento e del primo novecento, vol. 2, Borgaro, 2003, p. 781