Marble Torso of Aphrodite of Knidos

A painting on wood of the Virgin of Tenderness, copying an earlier work, depicting Mary dressed in blue robe ornamented with gold stars with an off-white veil delicately framing her face; gently supporting the Child dressed in red tunic; both figures nimbate and affectionately leaning towards each other with their cheeks touching; the scene enclosed in a gilt pseudo-Gothic crenelated frame, an inscription in new Gothic uncial style to the bottom reading 'AVE GRATIA PLENA' for 'hail full of grace'; mounted on a 19th century crenelated wooden pedestal fitted with candle holder to each side in the shape of a flower. 279 grams, 29.5 cm high



Property of a London lady, part of her family's collection.

The panel has many stylistic similarities with that of Icilio Federico Joni (1866-1946) assigned to the style of Sano di Pietro. Compared to that, the head of the Virgin has been realised in a more archaic Gothic style. With their faces gently pressed together, the interaction between the Virgin and the Child evokes a tender intimacy. This motif appears in numerous works by Sano di Pietro and his workshop (for example, in another painting in the Lehman Collection in MET, 975.1.39). The particular manner of concealing the Child’s right cheek behind the Virgin’s face was probably inspired by Madonna painted by the Sienese master Ambrogio Lorenzetti (Pinacoteca Nazionale, Siena).

A free-standing Grand Tour statuette of the goddess Demeter, carved from brilliant blue lapis lazuli; modelled in the round standing on an integral polygonal base, wearing a floor-length peplos and mantle, holding a cornucopia. 14.4 grams, 55 mm

Fine condition, right arm lost in antiquity.

Private UK collection. Property of a Cambridgeshire gentleman.

A marble interpretation of the famous 'Bathing Venus' (Pudica Venus) statue, modelled naturalistically in the round, nude, hair piled behind her head, holding her garment to her breast, standing on a composite discoid base imitating a stone pavement, with a casket at her feet; after Giambologna's Renaissance original; restored. 21.2 kg, 78 cm high

Old repair to neck.

French collection, 1960s-early 2000s. From an important Paris gallery, France.

The original 'Bathing Venus' statue in bronze has been attributed to Giambologna (Giovanni da Bologna) (1529-1608), and was probably created for King Henry IV of France as a diplomatic gift from Ferdinando I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. This is a neoclassical interpretation of that Renaissance statue.