Name/Title
Alabaster Bust of a WomanEntry/Object ID
1930.5.1Description
Alabaster bust of a woman crowned with laurel.
Italian artist Giuseppe Gambogi sculpted three thematically similar but slightly varied busts of women wearing laurel wreaths, creating a consistent narrative through them. Gambogi often depicted mythological or religious subjects, such as nymphs and saints. These busts, however, portray figure studies solely for appreciation of the female form, emphasizing beauty over devotional practice.
This work was created in a Neoclassical style, late into the movement and just following the Unification of Italy. Gambogi, consistent with Neoclassical themes, drew on the influences of ancient Greece and Rome to tie his work into the history of Italy. The laurel wreath adorning this bust represents an evolution of the themes and ideals of female beauty. The motif at this time symbolized chastity and immortality, often utilized in depictions of the Virgin Mary.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Giuseppe GambogiAttribution
Attributed toTime Period
19th Century, 20th Century