P. Uccello - Dal modello di Ferdinando De Luca (XIX / XX) - Sculpture, Scugnizzo - 25 cm - Patinated bronze

Splendid Bronze Bust of a Smiling Boy – by Ferdinando De Luca.

Description of the work:
Auction includes a refined and expressive full-bronze sculpture representing the half-bust of a young boy. The piece masterfully captures a moment of genuine lightheartedness: the boy’s face is illuminated by a lively and contagious smile, with eyes slightly directed downward, lending extraordinary naturalness and dynamism to the figure. The boy wears a characteristic wide-brimmed textured hat, finely worked to reproduce the feel of straw or cloth, and a shirt with a hint of a collar that blends harmoniously with the bust’s cut.

Author: Ferdinando De Luca (signed on the bronze).

Material:
Bronze cast with a magnificent warm patina that enhances the volumes, the light-dark details of the face, and the reflections of light. Base: Elegant and solid light-colored marble plinth shaped to emphasize the verticality of the work, providing a perfect chromatic contrast with the dark bronze.

Artistic current:
The work fully belongs to the rich tradition of Verismo and the Neapolitan School of the 20th century, renowned for its ability to immortalize popular subjects and “scugnizzi” with profound realism and psychological intensity.

Why buy it? (Note for collectors): This piece stands out for the extraordinary expressive rendering of the face. It is not a static pose, but a living portrait capable of imparting warmth, history, and prestige to any environment, whether placed in a classical study or in a modern interior setting. The casting shows notable care in anatomical details and textures, making it a secure investment and an exceptional piece for lovers of Italian figurative sculpture of the twentieth century.

Conditions:
Excellent overall condition, with slight signs of time that enhance the work and give it timeless charm.
The photos (taken with a simple cellphone) do not convey the true beauty of the piece.