19th Century, Girl With Kitten

19th century

Girl with kitten

Alabaster, cm 46 x 18 x 20

Signed G.A and dated 1867

The sculpture depicts a young girl sitting on a chair. The girl is knitting, with hands holding a ball of yarn and needles. Her hair is gathered in a soft crook, with some curls that frame her face. Wear a simple dress, with short sleeves and voluptuous folds. That leaves bare ankles and bare feet. The simplicity of the dress worn by the girl as well as that of the shape of the wooden chair on which it rests suggest that the scene is set in a humble and domestic environment. A kitten plays with her ball and she looks at him kindly and lovingly.

Alabaster was a very popular material in 19th century sculpture, appreciated for its softness, translucency and ability to render details with delicacy. The fact that the stone, dug especially in the Tuscan area - the city of Volterra was particularly known for the processing of this precious material -, was relatively easy to work makes it possible that the most detailed details can be represented perfectly. Alabaster was often used for small and medium-sized sculptures, depicting female figures, children, mythological and allegorical subjects: its delicacy perfectly suited the aesthetics of these subjects, from which grace should emerge, the sensitivity and idealization of beauty.