With its beautifully executed figure, flowing drapery, and graceful pose the present lot is a charming example of Italian Romantic sculpture. The Florentine sculptor Ferdinando Andreini specialised in allegorical works and figures inspired by nature. This figure is part of a series of nude and semi-nude women created by Andreini in the last quarter of the 19th century. Other lots of this series include Sea Nymph sold Christie’s, London, 2 October 1997, lot 418 and Luna sold Christie’s East, 5 November 1992, lot 96.
The same model of the same size as the present lot was sold Sotheby’s, New York, 10 July 2019, lot 52 for $187,500.
Andreini was taught by the sculptor Ulysse Cambi (1807-1895) and presented his work at exhibitions in both Florence and Turin from 1861.