Santiago de Santiago

SANTIAGO DE SANTIAGO HERNANDEZ (Navaescurial, Avila, 1925-Madrid, 2023).
"Female bust, years 55-60.
White marble.
Signed.
Measurements: 39 x 22 x 25 cm.

The sculpture in bidding is a work of the famous sculptor Santiago de Santiago, artist recognized for his refined production of busts representing members of the Royal Family of Spain and famous personalities of the Spanish society of the 60s. Its rarity lies in the material used, since the white marble was used for the realization of portraits of illustrious personalities and members of the royal family of Spain, an aspect that tells us of the high lineage of the represented.

Santiago de Santiago immortalizes a mature woman with gathered hair that emerges from the marble block itself. The lady shows an ideal face with symmetrical features, of clear classical roots, but realistic. Regarding the technical and formal aspects, De Santiago demonstrates a great mastery of the craft, a virtuosity especially evident in details such as the hair, with softly trepanned curls.

Santiago de Santiago was a self-taught Spanish sculptor and painter, who continued his training in France, Italy and Japan. His work has been recognized with decorations and awards such as the Extraordinary Princess Sofia Award of the Spanish Association of Painters and Sculptors in 1971 or the Gold Medal and Brilliant S.E.K. a year later, for example. His monuments and works can be contemplated in private collections and institutions and public places such as Madrid, Alicante, Melilla, Mexico, Lepanto in Greece, Oregon in the United States, etc.