Name: Large Boschetti Bronze Apollo Belvedere
SKU: MJGTA0030
Availability: InStock

Large Boschetti Bronze Apollo Belvedere

£3,500

A large Grand Tour patinated bronze Apollo Belvedere, after the Antique, attributed to Benedetto Boschetti, Rome, Italy, circa 1850, on original Sienna marble base, in good untouched condition.

The Apollo Belvedere or Pythian Apollo was considered by neoclassicists, from the 18th century, to be the greatest ancient sculpture. It is thought to be an original Roman re-creation dating to circa 120-140, was discovered in central Italy in the 15th century and was put on display in the Vatican in 1511, where it remains.
The workshops of Benedetto Boschetti (circa 1820-1879) based at 74 via Condotti, Rome, were renowned for their exceptional quality works in bronze and marble, after the antique, produced to satisfy the academic and sophisticated tastes of young Englishmen on the Grand Tour. They were awarded a medal at the Great Exhibition of 1851.

SKU: MJGTA0030 Category: Grand Tour

Dimensions: 56cm high, 32cm wide, 27cm deep

Footnote

The Grand Tour of the late 17th, 18th and 19th centuries saw many upper class, wealthy and aristocratic gentlemen travel to Italy and Europe, particularly Rome, Venice and Florence, for pleasure, education and inspiration. This afforded them the opportunity to view important classical and Renaissance works of art and architecture.

The term ‘Grand Tour’ was coined by the Catholic priest and travel writer Richard Lassels (circa 1603-68), who used it in his influential guidebook The Voyage of Italy, published in 1670, to describe young lords travelling abroad to learn about art, architecture and antiquity.

Robert Adam wrote of Rome in 1755, ‘Rome is the most glorious place in the universal world. A grandeur and tranquillity reigns in it, everywhere noble and striking remains of antiquity appear in it, which are so many that one who has spent a dozen years in seeing is still surprised with something new…’

Many Grand tourists collected souvenirs in the form of bronze and marble models of sculpture and architecture, and formed collections of Grand Tour objects for their English country houses, most notably Chatsworth House.