Nude Female Figure

Object belonging

One's own

Category

Wood sculpture

City

Rome

Location

Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia

Specific location

Store

Inventory

s.n.

Material and technique

Sculpted wood, paint

Author

Central Italian School (?)

Dating

18th century

Dimensions

52 x 14.5 x 11 cm.

Origin

Gorga Collection (1948)

Image copyright

SSPSAE e per il Polo Museale della città di Roma

Short description

This sculpture came from the collection of the opera singer Gennaro Evangelista (called Evan) Gorga, which was given to the Italian state in 1948 and was intended for the most part for the Palazzo Venezia museum. Identified by the number 323 in Gorga’s collection, the object is a mannequin of a female figure, which was intended to be dressed in clothes that could have been changed, added to and altered, in line with a tradition that dates back to antiquity and was particularly widespread in the 18th century, in both profane and sacred circles (cfr., for example, Madonne della Laguna. Simulacri 'da vestire' dei secoli XIV-XIX, ed. R. Pagnozzato, Rome 1993 or E. Neri, "Tra arte e devozione: la tradizione dei manichini lignei nella scultura umbro-marchigiana della prima metà del Cinquecento", in Scultura e arredo in legno fra Marche e Umbria, Pergola 1999, pp. 23-30). Its purpose is confirmed by the fact that the polychromy only covers those parts that were left open to view, in this case the legs and the décolletage, and the imprecise definition of the anatomical parts, which would have been hidden by clothing that was sumptuous and ceremonial. The head, which would have been removable so as to allow clothes to be put on easily, is missing, as are the feet and the arms, the latter probably also adjustable in part. It is tricky to date the work (perhaps 18th century), or pinpoint its origins (perhaps central Italy).

Grazia Maria Fachechi 

Bibliography

Unpublished