{"product_id":"la-sorpresa-by-cesare-lapini","title":"La Sorpresa by Cesare Lapini","description":"Cesare Lapini\u003cbr\u003e 1848-after 1891 | Italian \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eLa Sorpresa\u003cbr\u003e (The Surprise)\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Signed, dated and titled on the base\u003cbr\u003e Carrara marble \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This extraordinary Carrara marble sculpture by Cesare Lapini is one of the earliest and largest known examples of his celebrated \u003cem\u003eLa Sorpresa\u003c\/em\u003e. Dated 1882 and standing over four feet high, the sculpture predates Lapini’s exhibition of the model at the Esposizione Generale Italiana in Turin in 1884. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Lapini captures a young woman at the instant she has been unexpectedly observed, gathering her diaphanous garment around her body in a spontaneous gesture of modesty and surprise. The subject provided the sculptor with a formidable technical challenge. Supple flesh, translucent folds of fabric, delicate lace and individual tendrils of hair are all carved from a single material, yet each assumes a distinct texture. The figure’s polished skin contrasts with the intricate surface of her garment, demonstrating Lapini’s command of the demanding medium of Carrara marble. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Born in Florence in 1848, Lapini specialized in allegorical and genre sculpture, portrait busts and works inspired by antiquity. His virtuoso marbles found an international clientele among travelers and collectors visiting Florence, and his successful workshop produced sculptures for buyers throughout Europe and the United States. Contemporary writer Angelo De Gubernatis singled out \u003cem\u003eLa Sorpresa\u003c\/em\u003e among Lapini’s most notable sculptures in his 1889 \u003cem\u003eDizionario degli Artisti Italiani Viventi\u003c\/em\u003e. Lapini’s work is also represented in the Musée d’Orsay, whose collection includes his marble group \u003cem\u003eDeux enfants\u003c\/em\u003e. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eLa Sorpresa\u003c\/em\u003e became one of Lapini’s defining compositions. Its success led to further versions in varying sizes. This example, dated two years before the Turin exhibition, represents an unusually early and monumental realization of the celebrated subject. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dated 1882 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 50 1\/2\" high x 15\" wide x 21\" deep (128.27 x 38.10 x 53.34 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Provenance:\u003cbr\u003e Private collection, United States\u003cbr\u003e M.S. Rau, New Orleans \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Literature:\u003cbr\u003e Alfonso Panzetta, \u003cem\u003eNuovo Dizionario degli Scultori Italiani dell’Ottocento e del primo Novecento: Da Antonio Canova ad Arturo Martini\u003c\/em\u003e, Torino: Adarte, 2003, p. 513 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Exhibited:\u003cbr\u003e Turin, Esposizione Generale Italiana, 1884 (the model)","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45746217779335,"sku":"32-2029","price":168500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/32-2029_1.png?v=1788362451","url":"https:\/\/rauantiques.com\/products\/la-sorpresa-by-cesare-lapini","provider":"M.S. Rau","version":"1.0","type":"link"}