Young page - Italy around 1530-1540

Circle of Romano Alberti, dit Il Nero da Sansepolcro (San Sepolcro, 1521-1568)
Young page
Mixed media : wood core, papier mâché, textile, stucco, polychrome and gilded
Italy, around 1530-1540
H 88 cm

Standing, originally holding a torch or a curtain in his left hand, clad in opulent attire featuring a gilded tunic partially crafted from fabric and adorned with buckled sandals, atop a circular wooden base. The figure, possibly portraying a youthful courtier, emanates a vibrant energy and elegance. With delicate features and a gaze both subtle and expressive, the young page beckons viewers into his world.
This present sculpture represents a rare surviving example of larger-scale statuary crafted in a similar manner, employing a mixed-media technique involving stucco and wood, now attributed to Romano Alberti and his circle. The intricate attire and "all’antica" sandals, embellished with finely gilt decoration, are characteristic of the mature Renaissance period. The nuanced facial features of the young boy are part of a tradition of sculpture originating in 16th century Italy, in which Romano Alberti, also known as Il Nero, was among the foremost artists. The internal structure of Alberti’s sculpture typically comprised poplar wood fashioned into human forms, with layers of papier-mâché applied, then coated with gypsum and meticulously painted as they dried.

It is only with the recent recognition of the artistic contributions of Romano Alberti that it has become possible to attribute these mixed-material sculptures, previously credited to the "Maestro di Magione," to him. Confident in his success, Romano Alberti, known as Il Nero, established a fully equipped workshop (later opening another in Rome) specializing in the creation of devotional images. Many statues intended for draping were produced in this workshop, which operated until 1568, the year of the maestro's death.