Portrait of a Lady, "Giovanna Albizzi" c. 1860

Here we see Giovanni Bastianini's "Portrait of a Lady, Giovanna Albizzi," crafted in the 19th century with terracotta, offering a tactile engagement with its material. The sculpture's composition is vertically oriented, emphasizing the lady’s poised, elongated neck and dignified posture. Bastianini skillfully uses terracotta to create a smooth surface, yet he counters this with intricate details in the dress. Note the contrasting textures: the face's soft modelling against the sharp, stylized leaf patterns on her garment. The structure of this piece isn't merely representational; it speaks to the artist’s interest in form and texture. The delicate balance between realism and stylization challenges our perception, pushing us to contemplate the boundary between representation and abstraction. The sculpture invites us to consider the interplay between the figure's static form and the dynamic potential held within its textural details.