Bronze Statuette of Moses by Lorenzo Vaccaro

Lorenzo Vaccaro
1655-1706 | Italian

Moses

The figure of Moses is the subject of this compelling late Baroque bronze sculpture by celebrated Italian artist Lorenzo Vaccaro. Apprenticed to renowned sculptor-architects Cosimo Fanzago and Dionisio Lazzari, Vaccaro moved towards more sober and monumental works than the decorative architectural sculptures they were known for, as evidenced in the present work. The influence of his close friend, celebrated painter Francesco Solimena, is evident in his figures’ elegant poses and the fluidity of their ample robes. The torsion of the body, theatrical gesture and painstakingly elaborate embroidery of Moses’ robe demonstrates a mastery of both medium and execution. Though all of Vaccaro’s figures achieve a great elegance and fineness, his depiction of Moses is superbly profound.

Towards the end of his career, Vaccaro was commissioned to create marble figures of King David and Moses for the Jesuit Church of St. Francis Xavier in Naples. At the time of his sudden death in 1706, only David was nearly finished, so the Jesuits asked his son Domenico Antonio to complete the pair. This statue is most likely a preliminary studio work for this commission and would have become part of Lorenzo’s workshop for his pupils to consult as a model, then probably later sold as a memory in conjunction with the Jesuit commission.

Today, Vaccaro’s works grace significant ecclesiastical buildings in Naples, including the Duomo, the Church of S. Giovanni Maggiore, and the Church of the Certosa di San Martino. To find a Vaccaro piece outside of Europe is a rare and exciting discovery.

Late 17th/early 18th century

13 1/2" high x 8 3/4" wide x 3 5/8" deep

Literature:
Ciechnowiecki, Andrew, “A Bozzetto by Lorenzo Vaccaro.” The Burlington Magazine Vol. 121, No. 913, pp. 250-253.