ITALY - 18th century - Lot 159

ITALY - 18th century Presumed portrait of Ludovico Ariosto (1474 - 1533) Very rare subject in lightly veined Carrara marble Height 58 cm. Width : 50 cm. Note : A major figure in Italian Renaissance literature, Ariosto is best known for his Orlando Furioso (Furious Roland), published in 1516 and revised up to 1532. It is the sequel to Boiardo's Roland amoureux, and one of the founding texts of modern chivalric epic, and was to have an extraordinary impact throughout Europe in the 17th century, renewing the iconographic sources of Art History. Our bust is a classical representation of the author, wearing a laurel wreath and inspired by period portraits known from engravings.