Cesare Lapini

There is minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. The marble has been outside for a period of time and there is resultant loss to surface detail due to weathering. The marble has subsequently been cleaned, possibly with a chemical.There are a number of restorations, including: the woman's proper right little finger; the edges of the man's hat; the sides and edges of the tambourine; the tip of the man's proper right shoe; the woman's proper left arm, and two of her proper left fingers. There are further restorations to the edges of the woman's dress at the bottom. There is minor veining to the marble consistent with the material. There are a few naturally occurring inclusions, including to the man's legs and the woman's dress. There are a few minor chips, in particular to the edges of the terrasse and to the woman's proper left sleeve and the edges of her hat. Otherwise the condition is stable.
"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."

Lapini was a sculptor specialising in allegorical and genre subjects and models all'Antica, which he sold with great success from his Florence shop to an elite global clientele. Lapini achieved outstanding effects of surface texture in his marble compositions with daring elaboration of painting and undercutting. His unique compositions of partially disrobed maidens, such as La Sorpresa, and his allegorical creations of figures taking flight, such as his group Celeste, are his most popular subjects. The Galleria Lapini exhibited an impressive number of such statues at the Paris 1900 Exposition Universelle.

RELATED LITERATURE
E. Benezit, Dictionnaire critique et documentaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs, Paris, 1999, p.269; A. Panzetta, Nuovo dizionario degli scultori italiani, Turin, 2003, p. 513