ITALIAN SCHOOL (18th century) Marble Bust of a Woman Carrara marble, 38 × 27 × 15 in.
This finely carved bust captures a youthful female figure in animated, almost theatrical motion. Her parted lips and turned gaze suggest an allegorical or literary identity—possibly a muse or heroine—reflecting the Enlightenment-era taste for idealized beauty and expressive naturalism. The lifelike rendering of the face and deeply cut drapery are characteristic of Italian workshop sculpture of the 1700s, which blended classical inspiration with Rococo elegance. Originally displayed in a grand interior, the bust remains a testament to the virtuosity of anonymous sculptors working in marble during this period.