Giovanni Battista Villa

Overall the condition of the marble is good with dirt and minor wear to the surface consistent with age. There is a light layer of dirt to the surface throughout, and the marble would benefit from professional cleaning. There are a few small losses, notably to the sling in David's proper right hand. There appear to be some plaster restorations to the rock in his proper left hand. There is some very slight veining to the marble consistent with the material, including to proper left leg and foot. There are several small naturally occurring inclusions to the marble, most with white fill, including to the chest, the back, and the proper right foot. A section at the top of the cane is carved separately and some fill is slightly visible around the joints. There is a small area of light scratching to the lower abdomen. The wood base is overall in good condition with some stable splitting consistent with the material. There are a few minor nicks and scratches to the edges and some minor losses to the wood and the paintwork at the top edge.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any stat.mes nt made by Replica Shoes 's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Giovanni Battista Villa was born and active in Genoa, resuming his activity as a sculptor after volunteering in the second War of Independence in 1866. Known primarily for his funerary monuments and genre sculpture that was characterised by a sense of verismo, Villa also executed religious sculpture for the Basilica di Santa Maria Immacolata in Genoa. Works by Villa appear rarely on the market; a highly accomplished marble Eve was sold at Replica Shoes 's New York, 23 October 2007, as lot 53. The present figure of the biblical hero David recalls Gianlorenzo Bernini's version of the subject in the Galleria Borghese.

RELATED LITERATURE
A. Panzetta, Nuovo Dizionario Degli Scultori Italiani Dell'Ottocento e del Novecento, Turin, 2003, vol. 2, p. 955