ANTONIO TANTARDINI | Bust of a Woman

Overall the condition of the marble is very good, with minor dirt and wear consistent with age. The surface is in excellent condition. There are a few small chips, including to the hair at the back, and to a fold of drapery at the proper left shoulder. There is some slight veining to the marble, consistent with the material, including at the proper right breast and the chest. There is a small natural filled inclusion to the marble at the chest. There is some residue to the bottom of the bust at the back.
"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 beautiful bust shows a contemplative young woman with an elaborate up-do and finely rendered jewellery. It epitomises the virtuoso carving technique of Antonio Tantardini who, in a country famed for its skilled marble carvers, was one of the very best exponents of this craft. Vicario describes Tantardini's skill as 'un abilità tecnica stupefacente' ('a stupefying technical ability').

Trained by Pompeo Marchesi at the Accademia di Brera in Milan, Antonio Tantardini is celebrated for his achievement of verismo in Italian Sculpture. His works La leggitrice and La schiava, a combination of realism and Romanticism, show an affinity with Lorenzo Bartolini’s oeuvre, of which Tantardini was a follower. He sculpted a number of important monuments, including the Cavour Monument in Milan, the statue of Arnold de Brescia, and the Independence Monument in Vienna. RELATED LITERATURE
V. Vicario, Gli scultori italiani dal Neoclassicismo al Liberty, 1994, vol. 2, pp. 1021-1024; A.  Panzetta, Nuovo dizionario degli scultori Italiani dell'Ottocento e del primo Novocento, Turin, 2003, vol. 2, p. 902