Historischer Museumsabguss – Büste des Filippo Strozzi des Älteren - Bust, Filippo Strozzi - 52 cm - Plaster - 1918

Offered is a large-format historical plaster cast of the famous bust of Filippo Strozzi the Elder (1428–1491) after Benedetto da Maiano (1442–1497).

The specimen originates from the plaster workshop of the Royal Museums in Berlin, the current plaster workshop of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.

On the back there is the historical inlaid mark of the plaster workshop of the Royal Museums Berlin with the Prussian eagle. The object also bears the handwritten model number 2433.

The attribution was confirmed in writing by the plaster workshop of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin on the basis of photographs. According to their information, the model number R 02433 corresponds to “Filippo Strozzi the Elder.” It was also stated by the plaster workshop that the historical mark present on the current exemplar was used until about 1918. The corresponding written correspondence with the plaster workshop Staatliche Museen zu Berlin exists.

Furthermore, the model is already documented in the historical “Verzeichnis der in der Formerei der Königl. Museen käuflichen Gipsabgüsse,” Berlin 1906. There under the running number 1404 the workshop number 2433 is listed with the entry:

“2433 – Bust of Filippo Strozzi”

The historical catalog gives the cast a height of 52 cm.

The underlying Renaissance portrait was created around 1475 and is attributed to Benedetto da Maiano. The original terracotta portrait is today in the sculpture collection of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.

The bust features a dark brown–golden, partially bronze-like historic surface. According to the plaster workshop, the original surface effect may have been marble-like; the current appearance has been shaped by aging, soiling and changes to the patina. For this reason the surface is explicitly not described as original gilding or bronzing.

The object is in a historic, unrestored condition. There are age-related abrasions, scratches, flaking and losses of the patina or plaster. In particular on certain edge areas and in the facial region there are losses. These are clearly documented in the photographs. I have neither cleaned nor restored or revised the bust.

The historical museum mark, the model number 2433, the underside and the condition of preservation are extensively documented in the attached photographs.

Documentation available:
Written statement from the plaster workshop of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin regarding the model number R 02433 and the historical mark, as well as the historical catalog reference of the Royal Museums in Berlin from 1906.

Material: plaster, historically patinated
Model: R 02433 / 2433
Representation: Filippo Strozzi the Elder
After: Benedetto da Maiano
Manufacturer: Plaster workshop of the Royal Museums in Berlin
Dating of the cast: historical execution; due to the used mark, at the latest around 1918, exact production time not determined
Condition: unrestored historical condition with visible signs of age and use as well as losses; see photographs.