Italian Marble Busts of Jesus and Mary by Giuseppe Bessi (1857-1922)
Our pair of finely sculpted busts carved from white marble depict Jesus and Mary and are each signed in script, "Prof G. Bes fi" for Giuseppe Bessi, aka Besfi. Each approximately 9 inches tall. Each in good condition. They are surprisingly clean. There are scuffs, scratches and chips to the grey/black marble plinths and there is a small chip to the front edge of Mary's hood.
Bessi was born in Volterra and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence. He returned to his hometown in 1872 to establish his workshop, and also became the director of the Art School of Volterra. During his life, Bessi’s works were included in the World’s Fair in Paris, Turin, and St. Louis. His works can be found in the collections of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, and the Ecomuseo dell’Alabastro in Volterra.
