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A. GIANNETTI — THE FLORENTINE PIETÀ
Vintage Italian Reconstituted Alabaster Sculpture | After Michelangelo | Circa 1975
A Renaissance Masterpiece Reimagined in Miniature
A captivating vintage Italian sculpture reproducing one of Michelangelo's most profound and deeply personal works, The Florentine Pietà, also known as The Deposition or Bandini Pietà.
Bearing the inscription A. GIANNETTI on the reverse of its integral pedestal, this finely detailed miniature captures the extraordinary emotion and dramatic movement of Michelangelo's celebrated four-figure composition.
Unlike the artist's more familiar Vatican Pietà, this remarkable scene portrays the lifeless Christ supported by the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Nicodemus. Towering above the composition, the solemn, hooded figure of Nicodemus is particularly significant: art historians have long associated his features with Michelangelo's own likeness, lending the original masterpiece a deeply personal dimension.
The original marble sculpture, created circa 1547–1555 during Michelangelo's later years, resides in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo in Florence, Italy.
Sculptural Detail & Craftsmanship
Executed in a warm, ivory-toned reconstituted alabaster composition, this vintage reproduction preserves the expressive qualities of the Renaissance original.
The softly modeled faces, cascading folds of classical drapery, and remarkably graceful positioning of Christ's extended limbs create a composition of exceptional visual depth for its miniature scale.
Subtle shadowing within the sculptural recesses accentuates the layered garments and delicate facial details, while the understated monochromatic finish recalls the appearance of classical marble sculpture.
The reverse bears the clearly legible A. GIANNETTI inscription, an important identifying feature.
Documented Vintage Italian Example
This same A. Giannetti sculptural model has been catalogued by established British antiques dealer Applecross Antiques as an Italian reconstituted alabaster reproduction dating to approximately 1975.
This identification places the sculpture within the tradition of 20th-century Italian decorative art inspired by the great Renaissance masters.
Details
Inscription: A. GIANNETTI, on reverse of base
Subject: Michelangelo's Florentine Pietà / The Deposition
Origin: Italy, attributed
Period: Vintage, circa 1970s
Material: Reconstituted alabaster / bonded stone composition, attributed
Color: Warm ivory / antique cream
Height: 15 cm
Width: 6.75 cm
Depth:6.5 cm
Weight: 10 ounces, about
Style: Italian Renaissance-inspired religious sculpture
Vintage Condition
Appears well preserved, with pleasing detail throughout the composition.
Light surface wear, scattered age-related discoloration, and some accumulated material within the recessed areas are visible. No major structural breakage is apparent in the photographs.
Please examine all photographs carefully for the precise condition, surface characteristics, and sculptural details. Photographs form an integral part of the description.
Collector Appeal
An evocative addition to a thoughtfully curated collection of Italian religious art, Renaissance-inspired sculpture, Michelangelo reproductions, or vintage European decorative objects.
Equally suited to a private devotional display, an art-filled study, a collector's cabinet, or a classical interior, this signed vintage miniature brings the emotional power of one of Michelangelo's most extraordinary compositions into an intimate, displayable form.
A compelling intersection of Renaissance art history, religious iconography, and vintage Italian craftsmanship.
