Venetian school; XVI century.

Venetian school; XVI century.
"St. Peter and St. Paul".
Bronze and marble base.
Measurements: 17,5 x 5 cm; 18 x 8 x 4,5 cm; 7 x 6,5 x 6,5 x 6,5 cm (bases,x2).
Pair of sculptures made in gilded bronze, except for the nimbus sanctity. Aesthetically the two figures show a great quality in the modeling of the elongated and delicate forms added to the great lightness provided by the movement of the drapery and its folds. Both figures have a religious theme as they represent St. Peter, holding the keys and St. Paul with his usual attributes. It is clear the influence of neoclassicism in these sculptures, not only for the modeling of both pieces that shows a perfect knowledge of classical anatomy, but also for the elegant pose adopted by the figures, which stand out for their great stylization.
They are pieces of exceptional quality, reminiscent to a great extent of a figure of St. Philip attributed to the artistic circle of Sansovino and a reference in the Cleveland Museum Catalog. This type of pieces were worked in a meticulous and exquisite way, paying so much attention to detail as can be seen in the treatment of the clothing and facial features that in both cases are completely individualized. Aesthetically this couple is related to the Venetian school, which is described thanks to elegance, and opulence. Characteristics of a booming city, with a great trade linked to a strategic geographical location, gateway to the East. Venice became a school that delved into both Western and Eastern traditions, resulting in a vaporous aesthetic shown from a magnificent point of view.