Luca Madrassi (1848-1919) “The Fallen Gladiator” circa 1900

Well, I can assure you that the pickings from European Auction sites have been few and far between. If you are looking for over priced drawings or paintings of the nude then have at it because there are tons of overpriced items out there. Lately it has been a real ordeal getting artworks out of Europe and into my collection. The painting "The Shy Boy" previously listed as "on it's way" has now disappeared somewhere in the postal system. Another sculpture from a European seller has proven to be a scam. He insists the package was sent and the tracking number provided shows it was delivered to an address 354 miles from my home. Some people have to resort to outright theft in these hard times! I found this Maddrassi bronze on a European site and did some research on past auction results and it was within the affordable. It has some minor age related flaws but is still a nice sculpture. Fingers crossed it makes it through the circus we call the American Postal Service! Here is some basic biographical information on the artist:...................Born in Tricesimo, Italy in 1848, Madrassi began his art studies in Rome before studying at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, under the famous master Pierre-Jules Cavelier.    Madrassi joined the studio of the famous sculptor Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse's (1824-1887) and later Antoine Bourdelle (1861-1929); both of which had great influence on the playful romantic quality of his work.    He  also assisted the Scottish sculptor Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916).  Known primarily for busts and statuettes his work is typically defined by an imaginative and sensitive interpretation of allegorical themes. Madrassi exhibited frequently at the Salon of the Société des Artistes Francais from 1879 onwards, obtaining an honourable mention on several occasions (1881 , 1882 , 1883 and 1885) and a third-class medal in 1896.  In 1890 he finally obtained French nationality and became a full member of the Société des Artistes Français. He also exhibited at the Salon of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts in 1896.  

And here are a few examples of his prolific line up of sculptural editions: