Old Master Sculpture & Works of Art
Old Master Sculpture & Works of Art
Alceo Dossena (1878-1937) | Italian, circa 1900 | Athena Promachos
Lot Closed
July 6, 03:19 PM GMT
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Alceo Dossena (1878-1937)
Italian, circa 1900
After the Antique
Athena Promachos
Parian marble, on a mottled red marble base
figure: 156cm., 61 1/2 in.
base: 14 by 75 by 50cm., 5 1/2 by 29 1/2 by 19 3/4 in.
Please note that this lot will be sent to our Greenford Park warehouse following the sale.
Probably Jacob Hirsch, (1874-1955);
The Cleveland Museum of Art;
Ars Classica, Thomas Virzi (1881-1974), no. 115, New York;
private collection Switzerland;
where acquired by the present owner
The Cleveland Museum of Art;
Ars Classica, Thomas Virzi (1881-1974), no. 115, New York;
private collection Switzerland;
where acquired by the present owner
Il romanzo di Alceo Dossena, 348-371, fig. p. 366;
F. Studniczka, 'Neue archaische Marmorskulpturen - Falsches und Echtes', in, Jahrbuch des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, 43, 1928, pp. 149-170, figs. 13-14, 16-20;
G. M. A. Richter, The Sculpture and Sculptors of the Greeks, New Haven and London, 1950, p. 189, figs. 558, & 559;
W. Lussetti, Alceo Dossena scultore, Rome 1955, ill;
J. Chamay, 'Le faussaire du siècle', in, Artpassion, no. 22 June 2010, pp. 78-82;
Archeo. Attualità del passato, May 2016, 31, no. 375
F. Studniczka, 'Neue archaische Marmorskulpturen - Falsches und Echtes', in, Jahrbuch des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, 43, 1928, pp. 149-170, figs. 13-14, 16-20;
G. M. A. Richter, The Sculpture and Sculptors of the Greeks, New Haven and London, 1950, p. 189, figs. 558, & 559;
W. Lussetti, Alceo Dossena scultore, Rome 1955, ill;
J. Chamay, 'Le faussaire du siècle', in, Artpassion, no. 22 June 2010, pp. 78-82;
Archeo. Attualità del passato, May 2016, 31, no. 375
Alceo Dossena is one of the most interesting and arguably controversial sculptors active in the first decades of the 20th century. A native of Cremona, he excelled in carving mesmerisingly virtuoso interpretations of marbles from ancient world through to the Italian Renaissance. Unfortunately many of his works were acquired by unscrupulous art dealers during his lifetime and sold to collectors and institutions as period sculptures, without the artist's knowledge. Dossena successfully sued his dealers and won damages.
The present sculpture is closely inspired by the famous Pseudo-Archaic Athena Promachos from Herculaneum which is today in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples (inv. no. 81). The Herculaneum Pallas, as it is also known, is an 'archaising' Roman sculpture which imitates the early Greek Archaic style. The model of Athena striding forward with her spear aloft was exemplified by a monumental version which stood on the Athenian Acropolis.
Dossena's version of this venerable subject is an extraordinary and rare large scale statue which preserves the spirit and technical virtuosity of the original. Interestingly, the present work was discussed by Gisela Richter in her seminal 1950 publication, The Sculpture and Sculptors of the Greeks.
The present sculpture is closely inspired by the famous Pseudo-Archaic Athena Promachos from Herculaneum which is today in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples (inv. no. 81). The Herculaneum Pallas, as it is also known, is an 'archaising' Roman sculpture which imitates the early Greek Archaic style. The model of Athena striding forward with her spear aloft was exemplified by a monumental version which stood on the Athenian Acropolis.
Dossena's version of this venerable subject is an extraordinary and rare large scale statue which preserves the spirit and technical virtuosity of the original. Interestingly, the present work was discussed by Gisela Richter in her seminal 1950 publication, The Sculpture and Sculptors of the Greeks.