Fausto Biggi

Christie's, New York, 13 December 1983, lot 320;

Christie's. New York, 16 April 2015, lot 48;

Where acquired by the present collector.

"Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow,

That I shall say goodnight till it be morrow."

-William Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet's famous farewell at the balcony was a highly popular subject among Italian genre sculptors, such as Fausto Biggi, who worked during the late nineteenth century. A charming literary scene that appealed to an international clientele, it also provided ample opportunity for marble carvers to show off their skills, not only in the figures' intricate Renaissance dress, but also in the technical challenge posed by the rope supporting Romeo.