C19th Italian Plaster Bust by D. Brucciani

A 19th Century Italian plaster portrait bust by Domenico Brucciani after an original 15th century glazed terracotta bust (now in the Musee National de la Renaissance, Chateau D’Ecouen France) by Lucca Della Robbia, Florence 1435-1525. Inscribed on the back: D. Brucciani London.

Domenico Brucciani (1815-1880) originally from Lucca, moved to London in 1837 and established the Gallery of Casts in Covent Garden, a very successful business producing casts of sculptural works from international collections including those in the V&A and British Museum.

Plaster casts were especially sought after during the 19th century, when reproductions of great works of sculpture and architecture were thought crucial for the training of artists. A separating substance was applied to the surface of the work to be reproduced, and a plaster mould made from that. The mould would then be used to make any number of additional plaster copies. These were often sold to artists, and later in the century to art colleges for study purposes.

This bust perhaps represents the young St John the Baptist, and may once have had a pendant figure of the youthful Christ. The della Robbia family were renowned for their work in glazed terracotta, and their sculptures of children were especially admired in Victorian England.

More information and photos can be found here https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O12495/bust-of-a-child-plaster-cast-robbia-andrea-della/bust-of-a-child-bust-robbia-andrea-della/