Giovanni Mollica
The Farnese Bull | Taureau Farnèse
Lot Closed
November 16, 01:54 PM GMT
Estimate
2,000 - 3,000 EUR
Lot Details
Description
Giovanni Mollica
active in Naples, late 19th century/early 20th century
After the Antique
The Farnese Bull
terracotta; on a gilt wood base
stamped Giovanni / Mollica
(terracotta) 44 by 34 by 35 cm.; 17⅜ by 13⅜ by 13¾ in.
(overall) 48 by 40 by 39,5 cm.; 18⅞ by 15¾ by 15½ in.
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Giovanni Mollica
actif à Naples, fin du XIXe / XXe siècle
d'après l'Antique
Taureau Farnèse
terre cuite ; sur un socle en bois doré
cachet Giovanni / Mollica à l'arrière
(terre cuite) 44 x 34 x 35 cm ; 17 ⅜ x 13 ⅜ x 13 ¾ in.
(total) 48 x 40 x 39,5 cm; 18 ⅞ x 15 ¾ x 15 ½ in.
Collection Henri Garelli
The Farnese Bull was discovered in 1545 in the Baths of Caracalla in Rome. It soon became one of the most famous antique marbles, principally due to its enormous size. The group represents The Punishment of Dirce, the Greek fable in which Dirce, the wife of Licus King of Thebes, was tied to a wild bull for mistreating her husband's first wife Antiope. Soon after its discovery, the marble was acquired by the Farnese family. In 1788 it was transported to Naples and eventually installed in the Museo Nazionale, where it remains.
Giovanni Mollica founded a ceramic workshop in 1842 in Naples, via Santa Lucia. In 1862 his sons Ciro, Achille and Alexander took over the family business and continued its activity until the end of the century.
RELATED LITERATURE
A. Panzetta, Nuovo Dizionario degli scultori Italiani dell' Ottocento e del Primo Novecento, t. II, Torino, 2003, p. 584;
F. Haskell and N. Penny, Taste and the Antique. The Lure of Classical Sculpture 1500-1900, New Haven and Yale 1981, pp. 165-7, no. 15.
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Le Taureau Farnèse fut découvert en 1545 dans les thermes de Caracalla à Rome. Il est rapidement devenu l'un des marbres antiques les plus connus, principalement en raison de sa gigantesque taille. Le groupe illustre le châtiment de Dircé, une fable grecque dans laquelle Dircé, l'épouse de Licus, roi de Thèbes, fut attachée à un taureau sauvage pour avoir maltraité Antiope, la première épouse de son mari. Peu après sa découverte, le marbre a été acquis par la famille Farnèse. En 1788, il fut transporté à Naples et finalement installé au Museo Nazionale, où il se trouve toujours.
Giovanni Mollica fonde un atelier de céramique en 1842 à Naples, via Santa Lucia. En 1862, ses fils Ciro, Achille et Alexander reprennent l'entreprise familiale et poursuivent son activité jusqu'à la fin du siècle.
RÉFÉRENCES BIBLIOGRAPHIQUES
A. Panzetta, Nuovo Dizionario degli scultori Italiani dell' Ottocento e del Primo Novecento, t. II, Turin, 2003, p. 584 ;
F. Haskell et N. Penny, Taste and the Antique. The Lure of Classical Sculpture 1500-1900, New Haven et Yale 1981, pp. 165-167, n° 15.
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