Donato Barcaglia

Overall the condition of the marble is very good with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There is minor veining to the marble consistent with the material, in particular a prominent vein running diagonally through the girl's drapery at the back. There is further veining including to: the upper arms; the proper left breast. The proper right little finger is reattached and restored. The dog is reattached at the hind legs and the connecting front paw. The base is carved in sections, and original joints are visible. There are a few minor chips, in particular to the hem and to the drapery at the back. There are a few small chips and abrasions to the edges of the socle.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This delightful marble of a young woman offering a treat to her lap dog exemplifies Barcaglia's preoccupation with beautifully carved and highly realistic genre subjects.

A native of Pavia, Donato Barcaglia trained in Milan and Rome. During a period of outstanding technical accomplishment in marble carving, Barcaglia was renowned for the exceptional quality of his work in this medium. The last vestiges of neoclassicism which influenced his early work were soon replaced by a personal form of verismo. Following early successes such as that of his Vendemmiatore, which he sculpted at the tender age of seventeen and which was installed in the Palazzo Reale in Milan, the sculptor exhibited to great acclaim in Europe and America. His work brought him to exhibitions as far afield as Boston, Philadelphia, and Buenos Aires. Far from turning his back on his native Italy, Barcaglia also executed several public monuments for Milan and its surrounding cities.

RELATED LITERATURE
A. Panzetta, Nuovo Dizionario degli Scultori Italiani dell'Ottocento e del Primo Novecento, Turin, 2003, vol. 1, pp. 72, 125