Giuseppe Bessi after Henri Chapu, Joan of Arc Bust, 19th Century, Alabaster & Marble

Superb Italian marble bust of “Jeanne d’Arc,” after Henri Chapu, attributed to Professor Giuseppe Bessi from the 19th-century Italian Romantic period. Crafted in white alabaster and marble with elegant veining in shades of grey, beige, and black. A unique and rare composition, where the natural staining of the marble creates a striking contrast—her face turned toward the light, while the darker veining subtly foreshadows her fate.

Not signed.

Very good condition.

Dimensions (H x W x D) in cm: 56 x 44 x 30

Professore Giuseppe Bessi worked in Voltera in Italy when the country was still fragmented into kingdoms. Bessi served as director of the School of Art in Volterra (1891-1910), where he taught until his death. He is considered one of the most important representatives of Italian salon sculpture. His works combine the forms of neoclassicism and Art Nouveau. Bessi's works in alabaster were exhibited at important expositions, including the Universal Exposition in Paris in 1900, the International Exposition of Modern Decorative Art held in Turin en 1902, and the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (Saint Louis World's Fair) of 1904. Bessi received awards on various occasions, and his works were very successful on the international art market. Works by Bessi are in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg along with other museums such as the Ecomuseo dell'Alabastro in his native city. In Spain, the González Martí National Museum of Ceramics and Decorative Arts in Valencia holds a bust by Bessi titled Alba di Pace (Dawn of Peace) and in Chile the Museo Municipal de Bellas Artes de Valparaíso has a sculptural composition The Kiss of Glory. Numerous works by Bessi are in private collections in the United States and have been shown in exhibitions in that country.