CIRCLE OF ANDREA DEL VERROCCHIO (CIRCA 1435-1488), ITALIAN, FLORENCE, LATE 15TH CENTURY | BUST OF CHRIST THE REDEEMER

Collection Vecht, Amsterdam, no. 155;

L.M.G. Arntzenius, Amsterdam, between circa 1927-1957;

by inheritance to his wife Yvonne Georgi, Hanover, until 1975;

private collection, Germany, acquired from the above;

private collection, Berlin, acquired in 1980;

acquired from the estate of the above by the present owner

The facial type of this beautiful bust, including the oval shape, serene expression, typically heavily lidded eyes, and the thick locks of hair, is ultimately derived from Andrea del Verrocchio's figure of Christ in Orsanmichele, Florence, whose idealised features influenced representations of Christ by his workshop and followers. Another version of the present model in the sacristy of Santa Felicita, Florence, has been attributed to Agnolo di Polo (1470-1528), a Verrocchio pupil, based in part on a stylistic comparison with his bust of Christ the Redeemer in the Museo Civico, Pistoia (dated to 1498).

RELATED LITERATURE

F. Caglioti and A. De Marchi (eds.), Verrocchio: Master of Leonardo, exh. cat. Palazzo Strozzi, Florence, 2019, pp. 298-313; https://qspace.library.queensu.ca/handle/1974/24197 [accessed 20 October 2019]

A Thermoluminescence Analysis Report from Oxford Authentication, Ltd. dated 23 October 2019 states that sample N119p89 taken from the present lot, was last fired between 400 and 700 years ago (1319-1619 AD).