Terracotta Sculpture Bust Virgin Mary Signed A.neri Beginning

Terracotta sculpture depicting a bust of the Madonna signed A.Neri ALFREDO NERI late 19th century. Perfect condition. Measures L29 h27
There are few known works by the sculptor Alfredo Neri (Bologna, 14 July 1862 - 1928 or 1932), among the few cited by sources is the one presented at the General Exposition of Turin in 1884, entitled The first sleep of man, of which the Museo del Risorgimento in Bologna has a period photograph. The subject chosen by Neri allows us to show the results achieved in the study of anatomy and sculptural techniques at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna. Alessandro Massarenti (1846 - 1923) twenty years earlier had exhibited a sculpture with the same title at the Academy, thus offering a certain source of study and inspiration for the younger artist. The theme of the naked, reclining male figure is clearly taken up by Roman copies of Hellenistic sculptures. Giovanni Duprè, with his Dying Abel of 1842, and Giovanni Strazza with Ismaele (1845) are the first to give a modern rereading.Another work highlighted by the decoration of the portico of the Arena del Sole in Bologna, completed in 1888 with the stucco decoration and the concrete sculpture of the roof. In the Certosa cemetery various operations take place, following the Resignation of the Galletti cell and various rituals, such as that of his friend Giuseppe Pacchioni. Other funerary sculptures are for the Ceneri and Romagnoli families, both updated to the changes in international taste, which now decline towards Liberty. The final sign of the refined angel of Cella Vignoli, still and dated 1891. The date was later documented in Florence, where in 1919 he presented a medal in bronze and silver and in the local Gallery of Modern Art the bronze Ballerina from 1916 is preserved, and a chalk entitled La Falciatrice.