The stone cold face of sheer beauty

AS an art and antique dealer, you sometimes have to step out of your comfort zone, particularly when you recognise the presence of sheer beauty.

I normally stick to what I know best, which is pictures and paintings, but a few years ago I was at an auction and this beautiful little sculpture was in the sale.

It was not something I had planned on buying, but I simply fell in love with it and I took a chance. It is a plain white alabaster carved bust of a young girl in what could be a wimple or maybe just a simple cloth head covering.

It is mounted on a solid marble bust and is completely blemish free. To the rear of the carving on the base of the bust is a signature “Prof. G. Bessi” scratched into the alabaster. It is, of course, the artist’s signature.

This gorgeous little girl was carved by one Professor Giuseppe Bessi who, it turns out, is a famous Italian sculptor who was born in 1857 and died in 1922.

Bessi was one of the most prominent figures in Italian Salon sculpting, pioneering a stylised mixture of Art Nouveau and Neo-Classicism. He was the Director of The Art Academy of Volterra in Italy from 18911910 and taught there until his death.

Examples of his works were exhibited at The World Exhibitions in Paris, Turin and St Louis.

To this day, due to the quality of his work, many of his busts can be found in museums all around the world.

This pretty little lady is to view or to buy along with many other beautiful pieces of art at my ‘pre-loved art’ gallery AntiqArt at Holme Grange Craft Village.