1863, carved white marble, 3/4 life size, carved signature and date "L Fabbrucci /1863" to the terrace edge, titled on the base obverse. Together with a later ebonized cylindrical plinth and conforming black marble top.



Sculpture 44 1/2 x 24 x 19 in.; Plinth 30 x 25 x 25 in.

From the Collection of Leroy Lewis and Frank Rubis, Kinston, North Carolina

Sculptor Luigi (Louis) Fabbrucci was born in Florence, Italy, and was active in Italy, France and England. He was a pupil of the well-known Florentine artist, Aristodemo Costoli (1803-1871) until about 1848. Luigi created sculptural works in marble for the facade of the Santa Croce Basilica in Florence, as well as monument of the Resurrected Christ in the Cimitero della Misericordia.

Moving to Paris in the 1860s, he exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1863-1864, where he received an honorable mention, the same date this sculpture was created. Furthermore, at least two published sources confirm that Luigi exhibited a sculpture of a slave at the Paris Salon exhibition in 1863.

He also exhibited at the Royal Academy in London from 1872 to 1884. Sculptures by this artist are exceedingly rare, with an example in the Musée d'Orsay, inventory no. ChM 248, titled "Deux enfants, la Peinture et la Sculpture se disputant."

The artist's son, Aristide Luigi Fabbrucci (1859-1903), also became a sculptor of notoriety, moving with his family to England in the 1870s and remained there until his passing around 1921. Aristide exhibited widely throughout England, Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, and at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. Aristide had workshops at 14A Hollywood Road, Kensington, London between 1880 and 1883; and at Fulham Studios, 454A Fulham Road, Fulham, London between 1883 and 1905. Interestingly, he reportedly was the landlord of the painters James McNeil Whistler and Walter Sickert, and sculptor Alfred Drury, at his property at 454a Fulham Road.

References:
Thieme & Becker vol. 11, p. 148.

Benezit Dictionary Of Artists, Dyck-Cemignani, Vol. 5, p. 383

Catalogues of the Paris Salon 1673-1881, 60 volumes compiled by H. W. Janson, p. 306

Overall good estate condition; some scattered surface nicks to marble and minor staining; chipping at base edges; small stable hairline at posterior drapery; small hole above right lateral ankle.