Ercole Rosa Italian, 1846-1893

Overall the condition of the marble is excellent with some minor wear to the surface consistent with age. The condition of the column is also very good with some minor chips to the base.
"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."

Ercole Rosa was born into a poor family in the Marche region of Italy. His father was a stone-cutter who supplemented his income by fashioning crib figures out of terracotta. Rosa's first experience of sculpture was in helping his father at this work. He moved to Rome to study sculpture in 1858 and in 1874 won the competition for the commission of a monument to the Cairoli brothers. With the completion of this monument Rosa became a leading figure in the Roman art world and his reputation spread across Italy resulting in various important commissions including the monument to Vittorio Emanuele Secondo in Milan, Piazza del duomo.

His work combined Italian 'verismo' techniques with Romanticism. In his early days of study he made copies after the antique and was possessed of what Vicario has called 'an extraordinary technical ability' evident in the present model with its layers of net from which cupid struggles to free himself. As well as the large-scale public sculpture Rosa was well known for his allegorical, genre and portrait subjects. Another sculpture by Rosa features in this sale as lot 119. Like the present marble this bronze bust of a girl has an attention to decorative contrasts. Her ruffled hair is set against the smoothness of her skin, and the difference is picked out with a subtle patination. In the present marble cupid's soft limbs are enmeshed in a rough net in a tour-de-force of carving.

The model of Cupid is illustrated by Panzetta, entitled Luce and dates to 1893. The marble was edited by Orazio Andreoni who had a workshop in Rome.

RELATED LITERATURE
Panzetta (2003), no. 1616, p.784; Vicario, vol. 2, p. 903-909; Sapori, pp. 184-188 & 470