Giovanni Bastianini (Florence, 1830 - 1868, Florence)
Bust of a Young Girl, about 1860
White glazed Terracotta, 57 cm (22 7/16 in.)
This white glazed terracotta bust sculpture of a girl is set on a short, white pedestal. The girl has a narrow face with a high forehead, eyes in the half-closed position, a long straight nose, and gently pursed lips. She is wearing a bulky headscarf tied together around the head by a ribbon, with what looks like a knot of cloth hanging by her left ear. She has a long straight neck and wears a garment that forms a V at the neckline. The glaze appears to have maintained its patina, although there are some punctures in the surface.
Long Gallery
Commentary
Collectors of the late 19th century craved Renaissance art of all types, terracotta sculpture being no exception. Because genuine works were rare and often in poor condition, unscrupulous artists made objects in the style of the Renaissance to deceive collectors.
On a few occasions, Isabella Gardner fell victim to this practice. To our eyes, this portrait of a beautiful young woman looks extremely graceful and rather modern. It was made by a sculptor specializing in stone and clay, Giovanni Bastianini (1830–1868), who claimed to have made work inspired by the Renaissance, rather than fakes intended to mislead. However, he worked under contract to a dealer who sold Bastianini’s sculptures as works of the 15th century. Major museums and collectors were deceived until a jealous dealer revealed the scheme, creating an international scandal.
Isabella Gardner bought this bust in 1909 as the work of the famous Renaissance sculptor Luca della Robbia. It was recommended by Bernard Berenson and acquired from his partner, the dealer Joseph Duveen, for the enormous sum of $20,000. Shortly afterwards it was discovered to be a work of the 19th century. Even after the forgery was revealed, Gardner left the object in place – her initial fondness for it apparently undiminished by scholarship.
On a few occasions, Isabella Gardner fell victim to this practice. To our eyes, this portrait of a beautiful young woman looks extremely graceful and rather modern. It was made by a sculptor specializing in stone and clay, Giovanni Bastianini (1830–1868), who claimed to have made work inspired by the Renaissance, rather than fakes intended to mislead. However, he worked under contract to a dealer who sold Bastianini’s sculptures as works of the 15th century. Major museums and collectors were deceived until a jealous dealer revealed the scheme, creating an international scandal.