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 cast comes from the Plaster Cast Workshop of the Royal Museums of Berlin, now the Plaster Cast Workshop of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.

On the reverse is the historical impressed mark of the Plaster Cast Workshop of the Royal Museums of Berlin, featuring the Prussian eagle. The handwritten model number 2433 is also present on the object.

The attribution was confirmed in writing by the Plaster Cast Workshop of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin on the basis of photographs. According to the Workshop, model number R 02433 is “Filippo Strozzi the Elder.” The Workshop also stated that the historical mark on this cast was used until around 1918. The relevant written correspondence with the Plaster Cast Workshop of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin is available.

In addition, the model is documented in the historical “Catalogue of Plaster Casts Available for Purchase from the Workshop of the Royal Museums,” Berlin, 1906. Under entry number 1404, it lists workshop number 2433 as follows:

“2433 – Bust of Filippo Strozzi”

The historical catalogue gives the height of the cast as 52 cm.

The Renaissance portrait on which it is based was created around 1475 and is attributed to Benedetto da Maiano. The original terracotta portrait is now in the Sculpture Collection of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.

The bust has a dark brown-gold-colored historical surface that appears partly bronzed. According to the Plaster Cast Workshop, the original surface may possibly have had a marble-like appearance; its present appearance has been affected by aging, soiling, and changes to the surface coating. For this reason, the surface is expressly not described as originally gilded or bronzed.

The object is in historical, unrestored condition. It has age-related abrasions, scratches, chips, and losses to the surface coating and/or plaster. There are losses in particular along some edges and in the facial area. These are clearly documented in the photographs. I have neither cleaned nor restored or retouched the bust.

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

Documentation available:
Written information from the Plaster Cast Workshop of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin regarding model number R 02433 and the historical mark, as well as the 1906 historical catalogue entry from the Royal Museums of Berlin.

Material: Plaster, with historical surface coating
Model: R 02433 / 2433
Subject: Filippo Strozzi the Elder
After: Benedetto da Maiano
Manufacturer: Plaster Cast Workshop of the Royal Museums of Berlin
Date of cast: Historical production; based on the mark used, no later than around 1918; exact date of manufacture undetermined
Condition: Unrestored historical condition with visible signs of age and use, as well as losses; see photographs.