

This fine bust celebrates the Renaissance master Raphael Sanzo di Urbino. It is a charming portrayal of the youthful Raphael, depicting him with a wistful yet noble expression. The work is comparatively subdued, but the artist's expert handling of detail is apparent in the virtuoso treatment of the hair and clothing. Carrier-Belleuse made several other sculptures paying homage to notable artists and writers, including Dante, Dürer and Delacroix.
The signature on this bust indicates that it was made early in the sculptor's career; after 1868, Carrier-Belleuse changed his signature from A. CARRiER to A. CARRiER-BELLEUSE.
RELATED LITERATURE
J. Hargrove and G. Grandjean, Carrier-Belleuse. Le maître de Rodin, exh. cat. Palais de Compiègne, Paris, 2014