Lot 97: Scipone Tadolini , Italian 1822-1893 Greek Slave white Carrara marble, raised on a later rosso marble pedestal

signed SCIPO TADOLINI I.F.ROMA. 1860 and inscribed in Greek to the bracelet pisto tes and to the necklace elpis (hope). white Carrara marble, raised on a later rosso marble pedestal

measurements figure height 7 ft. 1/2 in.; pedestal height 20 1/2 in. alternate measurements 214.6 cm; 52 cm

See A. Panzetta, Nuovo Dizionario degli Scultori Italiani, vol. 2, p. 920 for an illustration of a similar female slave by Tadolini.

Scipione was born in the year of Canova's death, but his style, exemplified in this famous figure of La Schiave, continues the teachings of the great Venetian sculptor into the final decade of the nineteenth century. The sensual modelling of the slave, the crisp carving and attention to detail are all indebted to Canova's Venuses. Tadolini, in fact, had a direct link to Canova because his father, Adamo, was one of his main assistants and Scipione trained and worked closely with his father. Both Scipione and Adamo had long, prolific careers and their legacy was continued for two more generations; the original studio in the via del Babuino closed only in the 1960's. The inscribed necklace of La Schiave identifies her as a Greek slave, a theme with probably originates in Hiram Power's Greek Slave. Tadolini executed a variant model in which the slave rases her right arm to her face, seen in Panzetta p. 920. Another example of this variant is in the Botanical Gardens in Glasglow and is inscribed 'Oriental Slave'. Scipione's other main works include the Sea Nymph and Eve after the Fall which all share a typically softened approach to the female form. A similar model, though a foot and a half smaller than the present impressive life-size sculpture, sold Sotheby's London, June 22, 1990, lot 70 for £170,000.