Pietro Canonica, Italian, 1869 - 1959, a marble sculpture of the head of Christ, signed to shoulder, on a grey and white veined marble base, the head 33cm high Notes: Canonica exhibited the head of Christ in Naples in 1922 and a version is held in the collection of the Galleria d'Arte, Moderna. Pietro Canonica was born in Moncalieri in Northern Italy and was trained in sculpture from the age of 10 by Luca Gerosa from where he was admitted to the Academia Albertina del Belle Arti in Turin. His earlier works were influenced by Renaissance Art, but after World War I he devoted his work to religious subject matter such as the lot featured here. During his life he worked on many important commissions in Venice, Paris, London and Berlin, including making portraits of members of the British Royal Family. In 1937 he was able to gain permission to renovate and restore areas of the Villa Borgese in Rome and he used the property for his home and studio. He was professor of sculpture at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia in1910 and later at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma. He was in the first cadre of members named to the Royal Academy of Italy in 1929 and a member of the Accademia Nazionale di San Luca in 1930.

Overall in good condition, surface has minor abrasions and wear