IGNAZIO VILLA | Hero

Overall the condition of the marble is good with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. The proper left arm is reattached above the elbow. The proper left fingers and thumb are reattached and restored. The toes and front of the sandals are reattached and restored. There are naturally occurring inclusions to the marble, in particular to the back. There is natural veining to the marble consistent with the material, in particular to the chest. The surface is slightly dry and it is possible that the marble has been placed in a covered area outdoors for a period of time. The marble would benefit from a waxing. Particular dirt to the crevices, notably the face. There are various chips and losses around the edges of the base and various more minor abrasions and chips to the drapery. There are restored breaks to the fingers of the raised proper right hand.
"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."

This compelling marble tells the tragic love story of Hero, a young priestess of Aphrodite. She had an affair with Leander, who lived across the Hellespont and would swim over every night, guided by the light of a torch she held. One night, however, her lover did not arrive, as a storm had swept him into the sea. The sculpture shows Hero, hand outstretched, holding her torch, straining to see whether she can detect Leander in the water. Discussing the sculpture Villa described how he “expended much effort in giving her Greek features, and in impressing on her face love, fear, impatience, anxiety [...]."(I. Villa, Opere scientifiche ed artistiche composte, disegnate ed illustrate da Ignazio Villa e pubblicate a spesa del medesimo, Parte 2: Arte, Florence, 1860, p. 45; as quoted in Cobianchi's expertise).  Villa studied at the Accademia di Brera and lived in Rome from 1840 onwards, receiving a stipend for sculpting from the Viceroy of Lombardy-Veneto until 1849. His Hero, first executed in his final year in Rome on commission by Marquisa Maria Luigia Serbelloni, was copied several times in different dimensions. A version of the marble is currently in the collection of Hughenden House, National Trust (inv. no. NT 429100) - it was acquired by Benjamin Disraeli at the Great London Exposition in 1862. Ignazio Villa set up a palace-studio in Florence, open to the public, where he showed his marbles and plasters as samples, to be replicated. However, due to the dating and the location on the present marble, this is most likely the original version commissioned by Marquise Serbelloni.

RELATED LITERATURE
E. Marconi and B. Matucci, 'Ignazio Villa: un eclettico dell'800 da riscoprire attraverso alcune inedite sculture tra Palazzo Pitti e la sua Palazzina-studio a Firenze', MDCCC 1800, vol. 5, July 2016, pp. 25-43

An expertise by Roberto Cobianchi is available from the department upon request.