Workshop of Massimiliano Soldani Benzi (1656-1740) Italian, Florence, circa 1700 After the Antique

The Lord Astor of Hever, Hever Castle;
his sale, Sotheby’s, London, The Hever Castle Collection, 6 May 1983, lot 275

Overall the condition of the bronze is good with dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There are a few small fissures, including two to the proper right foot (at the bridge of the foot and at the ankle). There is a possible plug or circular fissure to under the proper left arm. There is a slight fissure or scratch running down the thorax on the proper left side. There are a few scratches and nicks, in particular to the chest. There is a larger nick to the rim of the vase. Pressure has also been applied to the corners of the base; the metal has warped slightly at two corners and there is a fissure at the other. There is a small drill hole to the underside of the base at the centre. There are a few original plugs, including to under the proper right forearm.
"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."

In 1701 the Prince of Liechtenstein requested that Soldani send him twelve terracotta figures after the best classical and High-Renaissance sculptures in the Uffizi. In 1702, twelve wax bozzettos were sent off with a covering note to emphasize that although roughly finished, Soldani would be prepared to cast identical models if the Prince desired them as cabinet pieces. The statuettes became a great success and entered several noble collections. The nude athlete, an intricate study of male anatomy, was one of the most succesful of Soldani's reductions. Further casts are in the Bargello in Florence, the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum in Munich and the Hertog Anton-Ulrich Museum in Brunswick.

RELATED LITERATURE
K. Lankheit, 'Eine serie Barocker Antiken-nachbildungen aus der werkstatt des Massimiliano Soldani,' Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Römische Abteilung, vol. 65, 1958, pp. 186-198, pl. 62; C. Avery, 'Soldani's small bronze statuettes after 'Old Master' sculptures in Florence,' H Keutner (ed.), Kunst des Barock in der Toskana. Studien zur Kunst unter den letzten Medici, Munich, 1976, pp. 165-72, fig. 2; M. Leithe-Jasper and P. Wengraf, European Bronzes from the Quentin Collection, exhib. cat. The Frick Collection, New York, 2004, pp. 262-7, no. 29; J. Warren, Beauty and Power. Renaissance and Baroque Bronzes from the Peter Marino Collection, exhib. cat. Wallace Collection, Huntington Art Collections and Minneapolis Institute of Arts, London, 2010, pp. 216-25, no. 20