After François Duquesnoy (Flemish, 1597-1643): A pair of patinated bronze busts of the Young Christ and the Virgin Mary
probably Roman School, 17th century
the virgin with veiled head turned slightly to dexter, the young Christ with wavy haired head looking straight before him, both raised on veined marble plinth socle bases, 27cm high overall, the bronzes 16cm (2)
Footnotes:
Exhibited
'Bronzes of the Renaissance', Chateau de Laarne, September-October 1967

Models in terracotta for this pair of busts were in the collection of Cardinal Francesco Barberini in Rome. From them, Duquesnoy produced two pairs of casts in silver including one for Queen Henrietta Maria in London. Subsequent pairs cast in bronze were produced during the latter half of the 17th century.

In good condition commensurate with age. Both busts with some minor rubbing to the extremities particularly the noses, chins, brows and, to a lesser extent, the hair. Similarly the drapery to both with rubbing to the extremities. The male figure with a repaired or let-in circular section to the right hand side of the drapery, this is next to a further smaller circular mark which may be a filled sprue. When viewed from beneath to the back of the bust this do appear to be repaired. The surface of both with a blackish lacquered patination which has some surface scratchings. Both are mounted to the fronts to turned marble socles, the male figure has been damaged at this fixing point at some point as there is a small crack to the right hand side of the drapery and also a quantity of old glue within the recess of the socle. The marble socles with old cracks and a number of old chips and losses which are rubbed with old dirt and discoloration. The female bust has an area of old restoration which has now discoloured down to a reddish brown colour, the rear of this bust has a large old chip loss. The male bust with an old applied paper number 156.