Female Bust In Patinated Bronze, Signed By Raffaele Marino

Elegant patinated bronze bust of a woman by Raffaele Marino (Naples, 1868–1957), a sculptor active within the Neapolitan sculptural tradition between the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century.

The figure, depicted as a half-bust, is characterized by a slightly rotated frontal pose and a composed, pensive expression. The modeling of the face—soft and carefully defined—highlights the artist’s attention to physiognomic rendering and the plastic construction of volumes. Particular care has been taken in rendering the hair, gathered at the nape of the neck and arranged in broad, wavy locks, contrasting with the smoother surfaces of the face and torso.

The surface features a warm brown patina, with natural variations in color and sheen that follow the modeling and emphasize its sculptural contours.

The work is signed “R. Marino” on the back of the shoulder.

Raffaele Marino, born in Naples in 1868, trained at the Royal Institute of Fine Arts in Naples, developing a predominantly figurative body of work that blends the solid Neapolitan academic tradition with a more modern sensibility in the rendering of volumes and the human figure. His body of work includes pieces in bronze and marble and has been featured in various Italian and international exhibitions.

A work of remarkable decorative presence, particularly suited to collections of Italian sculpture, classical or contemporary settings, and collections dedicated to Neapolitan art from the 19th to the 20th century.

Artist: Raffaele Marino (Naples, 1868–1957)
Title: Female Bust
Technique: Patinated bronze
Signature: R. Marino, on the back
Dimensions: H 61 × W 33 × D 25 cm
Period: between the late 19th and first half of the 20th century