Bronze Sculpture Raffaello Romanelli

Good morning. I have this bronze bust that I am having a hard time making out the signature. It is signed "Prof Raffaello Romanelli" and then under that "Fi-----" can't make the last part out. Any help with this greatly appreciated!

 

Firenze. Florence.

Debora

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raffaello_Romanelli

Debora

 

Thank you! Been looking at it with magnifying glass. I see he made lots of portrait busts, I wonder who this person could be?

 

He was very prolific; could be anyone. You can (roughly) date your work by the title "Professore." Romanelli received it from the Florence Academy of Fine Arts in 1892 so that's your earliest date. The clothing of the sitter though is much later. 1920s maybe.

Debora

 

Ha! The family's sculpture studio is still in business. Perhaps they have a helpful archivist.

https://www.raffaelloromanelli.com/about-us/

Debora

 

I already found them and e-mailed them and got this response!

 

Well done! So we can assume a commissioned work from the early 1900s and, if you found it in the U.S., an American (and very possibly, an Italian-American) subject.

Debora

 

I submitted it to Sotheby's here in the US for an appraisal.

 

I know you'll let us know how they respond.

Debora

 

I like the expression on this one. I feel that mood.

 

I heard back from the Galleria again, they said this is a portrait bust of tenor Enrico Caruso.

 

Oh, yes. Of course. World-famous. We should have recognized him. So not a commission. But likely more desirable on the market because of it.

Debora

 

I'm putting it up for sale, but I can't find any record of a similar item and what it sold for. Heard back from Sotheby's, said they weren't interested in it and wouldn't be giving me an appraisal, darn it.

 

Damn. I hope you can reach some Italian buyers and/or musically inclined buyers who would enjoy it as it should be. He's got a great, expressive face.