Anonymous, Bust of a young woman
, c. 1900, artificial marble and gray onyx marble. 37 cm (height) x 37 cm (width) x 22 cm (depth), weight 17.2 kg. Signed “GURRINI” on the reverse.
- Neck with glued bookmark, partially dented and rubbed.
- Beauty of youth -
The almost life-size bust signed “Gurrini” on the reverse could come from the Kunstanstalt Schumacher & Co. in Osterode am Harz. From 1900 onwards, the company operated a sculpture manufactory in which many Italian artists worked. However, the name "Gurrini" is more Italianizing than Italian, as it would otherwise have to be "Guerrini". The signature is intended to indicate that the cast of the mamma has been sculpturally reworked and is therefore unique, as evidenced by the extremely delicate features of the face.
The portrait is inspired by Renaissance busts, and the combination with the dark onyx enhances the beauty of the young woman. In contrast to the Renaissance, however, no real person is portrayed here, but the young woman has been given form as such. The symmetrically cut eyes and eyebrows, the elongated nose leading to a narrow but full mouth, and even the pointed chin give concrete expression to the ideal of female youth. The result is not a dead form, but rather the figure gazing attentively at the world, as if she had turned her head slightly away by herself.
