Hope. Gilt Bronze. Probably Early 17th Century.

Hope. Gilded bronze. Probably early 17th century, after a model by Juan de Bolonia (1529-1608).
With an inscription on the base ("Speransa"). Minor imperfections and restorations.
A gilded bronze figure resting on a simple plinth engraved with the name of the allegory, depicting a young woman, hands clasped in prayer, dressed in a tunic and cloak, barefoot and wearing a crown of leaves. Iconographically, the allegory was identified by the inscription on the base ("Speransa", meaning "Hope"), as it presents no iconographic attributes beyond the aforementioned gesture of prayer. However, the inspiration and proximity of this figure to the Allegory of Hope created between 1582 and 1584 by Giambologna (Douai, 1529 - Florence, 1608) for the Grimaldi Chapel in the church of San Francesco di Castelletto in Genoa are obvious. This earlier work, now preserved at the University of Genoa, was part of a set of six life-size allegorical bronze figures representing the Virtues. It is also worth mentioning the existence of several small gilded bronze sculptures made in Europe after models by Giambologna, such as the one in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (inventory A.60 1956), which measures 13.5 cm high and is considered a German or Dutch creation from the first half of the 17th century.
Weight : 606 grams. - Dimensions : 5 x 4.5 x 18.5 cm