CA0299 Florentine Grand Tour alabaster busts of Goethe and Schiller by Scheggi

An extremely rare pair of mid 19th century carved alabaster library busts of the German writer and pioneer of the Grand Tour Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and the poet and philospher Friedrich Schiller. Nicely toned and figured alabaster with original socle bases. Gilt bronze bands a clever later addition to cover cracks in the socles. Both busts signed 'C.Scheggi Fli Firenze' to the reverse. Cesare Scheggi 1833-1876 was an important Florentine sculptor, specializing in portraiture in alabaster and marble. Attractive rare pair of busts. Florence, circa 1860.
Provenance: The Dukes of Hamilton, Lennoxlove House, Haddington, East Lothian.

Goethe: H 22cm x W 19cm x D 11.5cm
Schiller: H 22.5cm x W 19cm x D 15cm 

RESERVED