PIETRO CALVI | The Moor of Venice

Private collection, Austria

Overall the condition of the bust is good, with some wear and dirt to the surface consistent with age. The marble is carved in sections, and a few stable original joints are visible, notably on the proper right side, where there is some dirt in the crevice of the joint. There are a few small chips around the edges, where the marble is deliberately left in a rough state of carving. There are a few small naturally occurring inclusions to the marble. There are a few light dirt marks to the marble. The bronze is a little dry. There is some greening to the bronze base, in particular in the crevices of the decoration. There is some minor white residue to the bronze base, probably paint. The bust can rotate on the marble slab that attaches to the bronze 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."

Pietro Calvi was an eminent ethnographic sculptor whose work reflected a fascination with the Orient. His harmonious integration of materials recalls the work of the distinguished French 19th-century ethnographic sculptor Charles Cordier, but rather than treating his subjects with scientific precision, Calvi saw the dramatic potential of his North African sitters. The present bust relates closely to Calvi's larger half-figure of Othello, which was one of the first in which he combined bronze and marble. 

Pietro Calvi was born in Milan in 1833 and studied at the Milan Academy and later under the sculptor Giovanni Seleroni. Often taking subjects from the arts including many Shakespearian characters, Calvi also made figures which now decorate Milan Cathedral and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. 

RELATED LITERATURE
Alfonso Panzetta, Nuovo dizionario delgi scultori Italiani dell’ottocento e del primo novecento, Milan, 1990, vol. 1, p. 193