Date
1868
Object Type
Photograph
Subject
Pietro Magni, statue of Beatrice, muse of Dante Alighieri, presented at the Brera Exhibition in 1868.
Holding institution
Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera
About The Work
The photographic reproduction of 'Beatrice' by Pietro Magni is recorded in the collection of the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, among the bequest donated by Francesco Hayez between 1866 and 1870. The image shows a life-size marble statue, photographed frontally on a pedestal against a dark background. Standing on a cloud is Beatrice, the muse of Dante Alighieri. The young woman wears a simple light-coloured dress with long sleeves and a round neckline, paired with a mantle covering her left shoulder. Her long, loose hair falls in waves down her back, while her head is encircled by a laurel wreath, the symbol of poets. Her face and clear gaze are turned upward, indicating her belonging to the celestial sphere, a feature derived from the figurative tradition of saints and martyrs. The statue belongs to a group of sculptures devoted to women of letters and poetry, which also includes the statue of Sappho from 1867. The work was sculpted by Pietro Magni, professor of sculpture at the Academy, and was presented at the Brera Fine Arts Exhibition in Milan in 1868, after which it became the property of Giovanni Vecchio. The statue’s present location is unknown.The photograph was taken by the photographer and painter Giulio Rossi in 1866, two years before its official presentation at Brera. At that time, Pietro Magni and Francesco Hayez were colleagues at the Academy, and the photograph not only gives form again to a now-lost work, but also stands as evidence of a professional and artistic partnership.
Title
Pietro Magni, Beatrice
Subject
Pietro Magni, statue of Beatrice, muse of Dante Alighieri, presented at the Brera Exhibition in 1868.
Creator
Fotografia Giulio Rossi
Date
1868
Object Type
Photograph
Technique / Support
Albumen print
Original Function
Documentation / teaching tool
Dimensions
mm 314 x 165
Holding institution
Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera
Unique identifier
ICCD_MIDF_7996042990771