19th Century Polychrome Painted Plaster Cast Bust of Femme Inconnue by Francesco Lauren

Description

This is a late 19th or early 20th century, high quality plaster rendition of the original bust created by Francesco … more This is a late 19th or early 20th century, high quality plaster rendition of the original bust created by Francesco Laurana around 1485-1500. Also often referred to as Unknown Woman, or Unknown Princess, the original is white marble, and is a popular featured sculpture in the Louvre, Paris.

It may have been produced by the Florentine Art Plaster Co., of Philadelphia, PA as they are the only catalog (1914) I’ve found that features this piece in the large 13”size. But their offering was white, not polychrome. There are no metal medallions, seals, marks or numbers of any kind, and it may also be English as the previous owner lived there for many years. It may have been a custom piece, and therefore one of a kind.
The Florentine Art Plaster Co. catalog erroneously referred to the original bust to have been a Donatello piece. The original sits in the Louvre and is well known as one of Laurana’s Renaissance masterpieces.
I believe the quality of this polychrome painted bust is one of the finest plaster art renditions of Lauren’s work available. She is stunning in her Renaissance finery! less