Romanelli Marble Statue, 1900 Sculpture of Children Playing

Signed by famed Italian sculptor, Raffello Romanelli of Florence, this 1900 era marble statue depicts two small children playing a game. The pair of cherubs or "putti" are captured with wonderful naturalism as they move, one is blindfolded.

Masterfully hand carved of a single block of creamy Carrara marble, the polished skin contrasts with the rougher texture of their hair and the base.

The signature is hand inscribed "Romanelli, Firenze," the Italian for Florence. The artist lived 1856-1928, and studied with his father, the sculptor Pasquale Romanelli and at the renowned Florence Academy, where Michelangelo's famous David is exhibited.

His works include the Monument to King Carol I of Romania at Peleş Castle, a monument to Czar Alexander II in Russia, the bust of Benvenuto Cellini on the fabled Ponte Vecchio Bridge in Florence, the Garibaldi Monument in Siena, and King Charles of Sardinia in Rome plus monuments in Philadelphia. His General Botha on horseback stands outside Parliament in Cape Town in South Africa.

Romanelli Gardens in Kansas City, which contains several works by Raffaello, is named in his honor, and he created the 1927 bust of Dante Alighieri on Belle Isle Park in Detroit.

This enchanting work of art rests on a base of polished white marble with gray veining, there are several chips on this base, see photos. The only flaws we see on the statue itself are a chip on the bottom of the base and two reattached fingers, which is hard to see in photographs.

Overall size of the base is 14" across and 12" tall, height of the base and sculpture is 41" overall.

Item # G-S4136