Antonio Rossetti (1819-1883) Esmeralda White marble group Signed and dated "A. ROSSETTI. F(ecit). R(oma). 1859" on the terrace under the tambourine Inscribed "PHEBUS" on the tambourine H : 54 cm Horn damaged and restored, accident to one of the hooves, dust and dirt Related works : - Antonio Rossetti (1819-1883), Esmeralda, 1856, marble, H.100 cm, The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, inv. no. HCK-2143; - Antonio Rossetti (1819-1883), Esmeralda, 1856, marble, Liebighaus Skulpturensammlung, Frankfurt Related literature: - University of Glasgow History of Art, Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, online database 2011: 'Antonio Rossetti'; - A. Panzetta, Nuovo dizionario degli scultori italiani, Turin, 2003. This sculpture of a woman with an idealized cannon shows the meeting of the neoclassical tradition and the Romantic movement in mid-nineteenth century statuary. It was made by the Milanese artist Antonio Rossetti, a great admirer of Canova. Studying and working mainly in Rome, he acquired a solid international reputation by executing large figurative works of neoclassical or romantic inspiration in his studio. Like a whole generation of artists, Rossetti was inspired here by a contemporary literary event to create this poetic work in homage to Victor Hugo and his novel published in 1831: Notre-Dame de Paris. Here the artist represents the gypsy Esmeralda, her chest bare and draped like a Greek goddess.