A Very Fine Italian 19th Century Terracotta Bust of Monsignor Pedro de Foix Montoya, after Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Italian, 1598-1680). This fantastic quality portrait bust model of the celebrated monument at Chiesa de Santa Maria di Monserrato in Rome. Montoya is depicted dressed in a loosely fitting soutane with open collar and arched sleeve opening. The forceful expression and delightful rendering have made his bust model one of the most renowned sculptural creations of seventeenth century. Raised on a mounted circular socle. Circa: Mid-19th century.
From the estate of the prominent Madison Avenue gallery owner and connoisseur, Alexander R. Raydon (1923–2005). Raydon was a New York art dealer and collector who owned the Raydon Gallery on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. Rockefeller-Dodge Connection: Raydon frequently absorbed exceptional works from legendary American collections, including documented acquisitions directly from the monumental estate of Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge.
The church where the marble bust of Monsignor Pedro de Foix Montoya
by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Italian, 1598-1680) was originally installed, the Spanish church of S. Giacomo degli Spagnoli, was deconsecrated in 1824 and sold in 1878 to the French missionaries of the Sacred Heart. At this point some tombs and artworks were moved to the Spanish church of S. Maria di Monserato. On the tomb, the bust sits directly on the bottom of its rounded niche, not on a socle. Thanks to the surviving label on the back of the bust bearing lot number 384 and its description, Anne-Lise Demas, Senior Curator & Department Head, Sculpture and Decorative Arts, at J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, was able to track it down to a 1925 sale of the collection of Karl Freund.
We wish to thank Anne-Lise Demas from The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California for providing us with the sale records and historical background of this bust. - Hathi Trust
Institutional Ties:
Raydon's standing as an Old Masters expert is reflected in institutional archives; historical correspondence shows he conducted high-level fine art transactions and research directly with The Frick Collection Archives.
These historical records can be accessed through specific resources:
1. The Frick Art Reference Library (New York City)
The Frick Collection houses the official institutional archive of The Anderson Galleries. Their collection includes original auction catalogs from 1925 that have handwritten notes in the margins detailing the final hammer price and the buyer's name for every lot.
2. Major Art Research Libraries
Several institutional libraries keep "priced and named" copies of historical sales on microfiche or in physical vaults. You can request a scan of the entry for Lot 384 from:
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Thomas J. Watson Library (New York)
• The New York Public Library: Art and Architecture Collection
• The Getty Research Institute: Auction Catalog Collection (Los Angeles)
3. French National Archives (INHA)
The Institut National d'Histoire de l'Art (INHA) holds a major physical copy of this specific Karl Freund Hotel Netherland sale. They frequently digitize European and American historical sales, and a direct inquiry to their library staff can confirm if their copy contains the handwritten price lists.
Gallery Hours
M-F 9:00 - 4:00 Sat BY APPMNT
Phone 323.735.6455
Facebook
Twitter
Linked In
Pinterest