Lot 60: A. BARGELLI

A. BARGELLI ITALIAN ITALIAN SCHOOL, 20TH CENTURY THREE GRACES signed Galleria Bazzanti/Scultore A. Bargelli/FIRENZE height of group only 68 1/2 in., height overall 89 1/2 in., width of base 42 3/4 in. 174 cm., 227.5 cm., 109 cm.

The Three Graces-Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia-individually represent qualities revered by the ancient Greeks: splendor, mirth, and good cheer, respectively. Together, they personified grace and charm, and were expected to entertain and amuse the Olympians. According to Edith Hamilton, the role of the three sisters was simply to delight the gods of Olympus, and merriment and visual pleasure were their principle assets. "They are not treated as separate personalities, but always together, a triple incarnation of beauty and grace...they give life its bloom." (Edith Hamilton, Mythology, 1969, p. 37) It was the poet Hesiod who names the Graces in his Theogony, "then Eurynome, Ocean's fair daughter, bore to Zeus the three graces, all fair-cheeked, Aglaia, Eurphrosyne, and shapely Thalia; their alluring eyes glance from under their brows, and from their eyelids drip desire that unstrings the limbs." Still other stories claim the Graces as the maids of the love goddess Aphrodite.

In the first half of the 19th century the Neoclassical sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen created his version of The Three Graces, followed by James Pradier's own sensuous rendition. Between 1812-16 the masterful neoclassical sculptor Antonio Canova created The Three Graces for the Empress Josephine and received great critical acclaim.

Not only a master carver, Pietro Bazzanti owned the gallery in Florence that bore his name. His clientele consisted mainly of amateur collectors commonly referred to as, "Grand Tourists". Known to house and employ the best sculptors of their generation, the present lot, by one of Bazzanti's protégé is a very fine rendition of one of the most celebrated and recognized marble figural group.