A RENAISSANCE MARBLE BUST OF A GENTLEMAN

Description:

probably Italy, 16th century
51 x 65 x 26 cm
White marble, worked in full round. The elderly gentleman is depicted with a contemporary headdress, a hat with earflaps, in this case positioned like wings. He is probably wearing a so-called "Schaube" or a scholar's cloak or gown, which - like the bonnet - was widespread throughout almost all of Europe. A thick gold chain can be seen under the cloak. The facial features are characteristically elaborated. Slightly chipped and traces of age.
Important private collection Rhineland, acquired before 1990
The gentleman's büste is depicted with the flatted bottom in the typical manner of the Quattrocento (15th century), but the type extends well into the 16th century, especially in Northern countries. The bust with the (secular) bonnet, the coat and the gold chain probably depicts a scholar, tradesman or another prominent person. Similar depictions can be found by Pietro Torrigiano (Torrigiani) (1472-1528), Man with Fur Collar (in Berlin) or his depiction of Henry VII of England in the V&A Museum, London. In painting, Hermann tom Ring, among others, depicted himself in his self-portrait with appropriate clothing (WWL Museum Münster), the bonnet can also be seen on the portraits of Erasmus of Rotterdam. - We would like to thank Prof Philipp Zitzlsperger, University of Innsbruck for the detailed information.