“ GIRL WITH
CORNUCOPIA FILLED WITH GRAPES “.... original title unknown.
By Francesco Monti.
[1888 - 1958]
74 cm h x 29cm.
Signed at the back,
top of base, F. R. MONTI.
1938
FILIPINAS
sculpture height 66
cm x 29 cm wide.
Base height
8 cm x 23 cm diameter.
Description.
This is beautiful
Monti sculpture capturing the classical style for which he was so
well known for here in the Philippines and Italy.
This classical
maiden is standing with her weight on her right leg, with her left
leg bent backwards, holding a cornucopia basket filled with grapes.
She has pleasant
soft smile on her face as she looks to the right and down.
A lot of attention
to detail has been paid to her hair, it is finely sculpted in a very
distinct style. The hair has been rolled at the sides then swept
under the scarf which covers the rest of her hair. Her hair can be
seen hanging down onto her shoulders from under the scarf from the
front view but no hair can be seen from the back view.
Her loose fitting
top seems to be bunched up over her right shoulder and then it is
caught by a strap above the left breast and then falls down again
nearly to her waist on her left side. The strap over the left
shoulder has fallen down off the shoulder onto the top of her arm and
the strap is in two sections joined together by a button.
She has what seems
to be a band around her waist and three layers can be seen. The band
around her waist is only visible at the centre front of the garment.
The blouse balloons
over the band in numerous folds.
The hem of the
blouse is very short in the centre front and then drops down to her
hips and hangs low around her body. It is a very full blouse and
balloons at the hem which makes me think that it was made from two
very fine pieces of fabric and stitched so it would balloon when it
is draped. The full ballooned hem can be seen right around the
sculpture.
The skirt is very
long and full and falls right to the ground and is bunched up beside
the right foot.
The skirt is split
from the waist above the left thigh and is caught by two buttons
below the fall of the blouse over the left hip and thigh.
The split reveals
the left leg which is bent forward as she rests it on some stones or
rocks.
Her full weight is
on her right leg and the skirt is draped around the right leg.
The left arm is
completely uncovered except for the straps off the left shoulder, the
left hand is placed on the left hip, all five fingers can be seen and
the palm of her hand.
The right arm is
also completely exposed and she is holding a cornucopia style of
basket, that has ribbons or cord wrapped around the basket as if
holding it together.
Her right arm is
clutching the basket and her right hand and four fingers can be seen
In the basket is a
bountiful harvest of grapes and leaves can be seen in the basket
among the grapes from the back. The basket is extremely full and
grapes can be seen under the right arm against the basket. The
cornucopia basket full of grapes the sign of abundance and
nourishment.
The draping over the
back of the left leg is very full and falls back in behind the leg
and clings to the right leg.
The back view
clearly shows the scarf falling from off her head and down her back to
below her waist.
The fullness of the
back of the blouse can be seen around the waist and around the hem of
the blouse.
The skirt falls
straight to the ground at the back.
The left foot is
completely exposed and the right foot can be seen protruding from
under the skirt.
Interesting
features.
- Signed... F.R.Monti
1938
FILIPINAS
Signed on the top of the base at the back, below the hem of her
skirt.
- The base has a 3mm pattern carved into it 5mm wide concave band,
and bottom of the base is
3 mm wide.
- Under the base is clear of all markings.
- The basket, it is designed after the Cornucopia baskets, [ from the
Latin cornu copiai ]
Horn of plenty, it is a symbol of abundance and nourishment.
Usually a woven wicker basket.
Written by,
Mark E Shellshear.
Art consultant.
markshellshear@gmail.com
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