Lot 309: Marble Beatrice of Dante, by Brogi 1853-1919, Italy

Stunning Beautiful Marble & Alabaster Beatrice(?) bust, signed by Giovanni Brogi 1853-1919, Italian sculptor. Material: Marble and alabaster. You could decorate your palazzo or estate with real marble statue, which looks like from Renaissance time. Approximate weight: 50-70 lb. Height with base: 18 inches = 45 cm. Height without base: 16 inches = 40 cm. Base: 17 x 6.5 inches = 42.5 cm x 16.25 cm. Shipping: Recommended shipping in USA and internationally by UPS, FEDEX or Freight with full insurance. International shipping is available, ask for shipping rates. Local pick up is available, - if you live or take vacation in Florida or Georgia. According to the autobiographic La Vita Nuova, Beatrice and Dante met only twice during their lives. Even less credible is the numerology behind these encounters, marking out Dante's life in periods of nine years. This amount of time falls in line with Dante's repeated use of the number three or multiples of, derived from the Holy Trinity. It is more likely that the encounters with Beatrice that Dante writes of are the two that fulfill his poetic vision, and Beatrice, like Petrarch's Laura, seem to blur the line between an actual love interest and a means employed by the poet. According to Dante, he first met Beatrice when his father took him to the Portinari house for a May Day party. At the time, Beatrice was eight years old, a year younger than Dante. Dante was instantly taken with her and remained so throughout her life even though she married another man, banker Simone dei Bardi, in 1287. Beatrice died three years later in June 1290 at the age of 24. Dante continued to hold an abiding love and respect for the woman after her death, even after he married Gemma Donati in 1285 and had children. After Beatrice's death, Dante withdrew into intense study and began composing poems dedicated to her memory. The collection of these poems, along with others he had previously written in his journal in awe of Beatrice, became La Vita Nuova. Following their first meeting, Dante was so enthralled by Beatrice that he later wrote in La Vita Nuova: Ecce Deus fortior me, qui veniens dominabitur mihi ("Behold, a deity stronger than I; who coming, shall rule over me.") Indeed, Dante frequented parts of Florence, his home city, where he thought he might catch even a glimpse of her. As he did so, he made great efforts to ensure his thoughts of Beatrice remained private, even writing poetry for another lady, so as to use her as a "screen for the truth".rnrnDante's courtly love for Beatrice continued for nine years, before the pair finally met again. rnt in his creations.<br /> <strong>Condition</strong> Very good, no cracks, there are several small chips at the base of the bust, the biggest chip is 1.5 cm long.<br /> Low Estimate: 30000;<br /> High Estimate: 50000;<br /> Condition: Excellent;<br /> Original: Yes;<br /> Circa: 1900;