Large Italian Patinated Bronze Jupiter After Cellini, Cast by Marinelli Florence

Description

An Incredible and Quite Large Italian Patinated Bronze Figure of Jupiter, After Benvenuto Cellini (1500–1571), Cast by Fonderia Ferdinando Marinelli, Florence. This large bronze figure represents Jupiter, king of the GDs in Roman mythology, modeled after the celebrated design by Benvenuto Cellini (Italian, Florence 1500–1571). The figure stands with one arm raised, grasping a thunderbolt, while the other holds the draped edge of his robe. His body is rendered with muscular precision, the form partially covered by a flowing mantle that falls across his left shoulder and wraps around his legs. The face is defined by a deeply carved beard and a steady gaze directed slightly downward, emphasizing the god’s commanding presence. The statue rests on a circular black marble base, which provides stability and height to the composition. The patinated bronze surface has a rich, even tone, showing careful attention to the contours and weight of the drapery. Benvenuto Cellini, one of the most renowned sculptors and goldsmiths of the Italian Renaissance, was active in Florence and at the court of François I of France. He is widely recognized for his technical mastery and detailed modeling in both metalwork and sculpture. His autobiography, often cited as one of the most important documents of the 16th century, offers a vivid account of artistic life during the Renaissance. Cellini’s original Jupiter design was part of a projected series of twelve silver figures of divinities created for François I, of which only the model for Jupiter is believed to have been completed. The present bronze bears the foundry inscription “FUSE FERDINANDO MARINELLI FIRENZE N. 6/50,” identifying it as an authorized cast from the Fonderia Artistica Ferdinando Marinelli of Florence, as part of a LIMITED EDITION of fifty, with this example numbered six. Established in 1905, the Marinelli foundry is among Italy’s most respected art foundries, known for its use of the traditional lost-wax method and for producing authorized casts for major institutions such as the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, the Uffizi, and the Vatican Museums. Comparable examples of Cellini’s Jupiter are preserved in several important collections, including the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (European Sculpture and Decorative Arts). Other known versions are recorded in the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg; the Museo Arqueológico, Madrid; and the Detroit Institute of Arts. This cast follows the enduring Florentine tradition of reproducing Cellini’s classical models, reflecting both the historic influence of his work and the continued excellence of Italian bronze casting in the 1900's. Italy, Circa: 1900's

Details

Dimensions