19th and 20th Century Sculpture
19th and 20th Century Sculpture
Auction Closed
July 10, 03:03 PM GMT
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
CESARE LAPINI
Italian
1848-after 1893
PSYCHE ABANDONED
signed and dated: C.LAPINI / FIRENZE 1900
white marble
96cm., 37¾in.
Exemplary of Lapini's oeuvre, the present Psyche reflects the sculptor's interest in allegorical figures. Considered one of the most celebrated Neoclassical models in Italy, the Abandoned Psyche has been copied and reinterpreted by numerous artists during the 19th century. The sculpture shows Psyche in a moment of true sorrow, where she is abandoned by Cupid for not honouring their sacred pact. Lapini remains truthful to the classic representation of the Abandoned Psyche, usually portrayed sitting on a rock with an empty gaze. However, the sculptor makes a small variation by bringing a hand to her cheek, enhancing Psyche’s feeling of loss.
RELATED LITERATURE
A. Panzetta, Nuovo dizionario degli scultori italiani, Turin, 2003, p. 513