Antique Grand Tour Alabaster Desk Bust of Dante Alighieri, 19th Century

This is an elegant monumental Grand Tour bronze sculpture of Michelangelo's David, circa 1880 in date. The full-length portrait statue is of David, the 14ft marble statue depicts the Biblical hero David, represented as a standing male nude, David looks tense and ready for battle after he has made the decision to fight Goliath, but, before the battle has actually taken place. His brow is drawn, his neck tense, and the veins bulge out of his lowered right hand and holding his slingshot over his shoulder. This impressive scuplture is 107cm (3ft 6" ) tall and weighs over 36kgs (79lbs). This high quality hot cast solid bronze was produced using the traditional 'lost wax' process. The attention to detail of this sculpture is absolutely fantastic. Condition: In really excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 107 x Width 41 x Depth 24.5 Weight 36.3 kg Dimensions in inches: Height 3 foot, 6 inches x Width 1 foot, 4 inches x Depth 10 inches Weight 80.0 lbs Michelangelo's David This astonishing Renaissance sculpture was created between 1501 and 1504. It is a 14ft marble statue depicting the Biblical hero David, represented as a standing male nude. Originally commissioned by the Opera del Duomo for the Cathedral of Florence, it was meant to be one of a series of large statues to be positioned in the niches of the cathedral’s tribunes, way up at about 80mt from the ground. Michelangelo was asked by the consuls of the Board to complete an unfinished project begun in 1464 by Agostino di Duccio and later carried on by Antonio Rossellino in 1475. Both sculptors had in the end rejected an enormous block of marble due to the presence of too many “taroli”, or imperfections, which may have threatened the stability of such a huge statue...

An elegant French Grand Tour bronze figure of the Greek Goddess Diana by Marius-Jean-Antonin Mercié, French 1845 - 1916, dating from Circa 1880. The seated and robed Goddess Diana is holding a bow and arrows with her head downcast and raised on a circular plinth. Diana was originally considered to be a goddess of the wilderness and of the hunt, a central sport in both Roman and Greek culture. Early Roman inscriptions to Diana celebrated her primarily as a huntress and patron of hunters. Add a beautiful classical element to your home with this delightful bronze. Condition: In excellent condition with no dings, dents or signs of repair. Please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 41 x Width 29 x Depth 19 Dimensions in inches: Height 1 foot, 4 inches x Width 11 inches x Depth 7 inches Mercié entered the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris, and studied under Alexandre Falguière and François Jouffroy, and in 1868 gained the Grand Prix de Rome at the age of 23. His first great popular successes were the David and Gloria Victis, which was shown and received the Medal of Honour of the Paris Salon. The bronze was subsequently placed in the Square Montholon. The bronze David...