Pietro Barzanti (1842 - 1881), Sculpture "crouching Venus", Signed, 19th Century

Carrara marble sculpture representing a crouching Venus, it rests on a base (approximately 3 cm), signed P. Barzanti, Firenze (Florence) 19th century. (Missing finger parts (see photos). "The Crouching Venus is a Hellenistic model of Venus surprised in her bath. She is crouching, her right knee close to the ground, her head turned to the right and, in most versions, she extends her right arm towards her left shoulder to cover her breasts. Judging by the number of examples excavated at Roman sites in Italy and France, this variant of Venus seems to have been popular." Pietro Barzanti ( 1842 - 1881) was an essential player in Florentine sculpture at the end of the 19th century. His workshop, still known today as Galleria Barzanti (or Bazzanti), produced numerous marbles after the Antique or 'after the models of appreciated contemporary sculptors, such as Lorenzo Bartolini (1777-1850) or Johann Heinrik van Danncker (1758-1841). These copies were intended for travelers on the Grand Tour. The crouching Venus is inspired by the Antique model, known by numerous versions, some with significant variations.