Continental Carved Marble Bust, Parsifal

Late 19th century, carved and painted marble, artist signed "Hertel" to verso.

12.5 x 11 x 6 in.

From the collection of Roy High, Cary, North Carolina

Richard Wagner started work on his opera 'Parsifal' in 1857, but it was not given its first performance until 1882. Wagner loosely based his work on Wolfram von Eschenbach's 13th century poem, Parzival, which told the story of the Arthurian Knight, Percival, and his quest for the Holy Grail.

Some paint loss to chainmail; looseness to base.