Adonis, Italie, Veneto, début du XVIIIe siècle, attribué à Giacomo Cassetti (1682-1757)

sa tête légèrement inclinée, coiffée d'un bonnet phrygien, laissant apparaître sa chevelure bouclée, Adonis se tient debout en léger contraposto, s'appuyant sur un tronc d'arbre derrière lui, un tissu drapé sur l'épaule et enveloppant ses hanches ; il est accompagné de son chien

Chateau de Chiffevast, à Tamerville prés de Valognes (Manche)
Ancienne collection du Consul Lebrun, duc de Plaisance et Pair de France, en l¹An XI Ancienne collection Adolphe et Eugéne Bretel, vers 1900,
Ancienne collection René Ledoux, et dans la descendance.

REFERENCE BIBLIOGRAPHIQUE
G. Pavanello, La Scultura Veneta del Seicento e del Settecento. Nuovi Studi, Venezia, 2002, p. 337- 374.

Very good condition overall. The surface appears to be weathered at several places with some mousse and signs of erosion due to outside exposure. The two small toe tipps of his proper right foot missing. The surface appears to have been whitewashed at several places notably to his proper right cheek and in particular to his lower proper right leg, maybe an old restoration or overcleaning of the surface. A few lacks to the edges of his hat, and a few minor chips to the edges of the base.The dog's proper right leg shows some white washing and filling, maybe due to an old restoration, both ears showing the same white filling, may have been restored. Very attractive sculpture.
"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."

Originaire de Venise, Giacomo Cassetti (1682-1757) fut dès 1702 à Vincenza l'élève d'Angelo puis Orazio Marinali, dont il épousera la fille en 1706. Stylistiquement, l'Adonis peut être rapproché des statues que Cassetti a réalisé pour la Villa Pisani-Marchesi à Mogliano (Veneto) et pour le théâtre communale à Belluno (cf. op.cit, p. 387, fig. 24 et p. 390, fig. 33). On retrouve en effet chez l'Adone de Belluno ce léger contraposto et les genoux aux plis marqués. Les boucles de cheveux soigneusement enroulées, les yeux profondément incisés, ainsi que la bouche entrouverte aux lèvres assez fines sont autant de traits qui rapprochent le visage de cet Adonis de celui d'un Saint Bernard de Sienne provenant de la chiesa dell'Araceli à Vicence et viennent confirmer cette attribution.