Fratelli Romanelli (Italian, 19th century), Relief Sculpture of Sappho (Woman with Lyre)

carved and painted marble, artist cachet to verso "Romanelli Flli. /Scultori/ Firenze," with incised signatures of "Prof. G./O.? Pucci" near base sides.
17 1/2 x 16 x 8 in.
Several generations of Romanelli sculptors have passed through the Florentine sculpture studio's doors: Pasquale Romanelli (1812-1887), his son Raffaello (1856-1928), followed by his son Romano, then Folco and currently brothers Raffaello and Vincenzo Romanelli. The atelier's beginnings trace back to Lorenzo Bartolini (Italian, 1777-1850) who lived in Paris as the Bonaparte family's official sculptor. After the downfall of Napoleon, he returns in Florence and has his first studio in via della Scala. Pasquale Romanelli would become his prized pupil and go on to begin the Romanellii family studio in Florence. The Romanelli studio is known for creating figurative marble sculptures of classical theme, and still remains one of the few working studios in Florence to this day.
Property of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, sold to support art collections care

Some scattered scuffs, chips and associated paint loss; some staining.