Attributed to Carlo Albacini (1734-1813): White Marble Bust of 'La Zingarella'

Attributed to Carlo Albacini (1734-1813): White Marble Bust of 'La Zingarella'.

Italy, circa 1800.
After the antique.

Dating from the late 18th/ early 19th Century, this is an example of one of the most recognisable busts from ancient times. It depicts a serene female of high status, with a noble, slightly raised head and confident gaze. Her wrap is swathed around her neck and head so that only her face is showing; this image was first found within Greek terracottas of the 4th Century BC and the primary version in marble can be found in the Farnese collection, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples.

Commonly known as “La Zingarella” the bust is generally accepted as depicting a Vestal Virgin, possibly Tuccia, who proved her doubted chastity by carrying a sieve full of water from the Tiber to the Temple of Vesta.

Carlo Albacini was a student of the sculptor and restorer Bartolomeo Cavaceppi. He specialised in sculptures after the antique, including restorations of excavated marbles and his own works based on the most sought after models from ancient times. He counted amongst his patrons Henry Blundell, of the famed Ince Blundell marbles, and the Dukes of Devonshire. For comparative examples of his works see the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.

For related literature see:
Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, Foreign Catalogue, Text, p. 284-28, &plates p. 411 – 414
B.T., Maiuri, Museo Naz. Napoli (1971) Nr.32

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This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

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