I Denti Del Nonno, Grandfather's Teeth, Marble Bas-relief, Italy, 19th Century

Marble bas-relief – “I Denti del Nonno”.. Italy, late 19th – early 20th century.

Carved marble Charming marble bas-relief depicting a young woman and an old man in a scene of tender complicity. The young woman, her finger on the old man’s mouth, seems to be addressing a gentle reproach or a mischievous confidence to him. The composition expresses a warm intimacy, reinforced by the inscription engraved in the lower cartouche: I DENTI DEL NONNO – “Grandfather’s Teeth” – an affectionate wink, perhaps in reference to a family joke, a popular or mischievous story, a now-forgotten theatrical work.
The stylization of the faces, the treatment of the hair and clothing, as well as the lettering, evoke an Italian production of the late 19th or early 20th century, a period in which artists reinterpreted the forms of the Renaissance or Trecento in a decorative or anecdotal spirit. Italy at the end of the 19th century saw a renewed interest in popular traditions and narrative sculpture, often intended for domestic use or to decorate niches or private interiors.
This type of bas-relief, imbued with familiarity and tender humor, reflects this tendency to bring past and present into dialogue in an accessible and expressive language. White marble in very good condition.