Urbano Lucchesi

Princess Elena Demidoff, Villa Demidoff, Pratolino;

By descent to her daughter Marie, Princess Abamelek-Lazarev;

By family descent to Prince Paul of Yugoslavia (1893-1976);

His sale, Sotheby’s Florence, 22 April 1969, lot 192

This beautifully carved bust represents the second wife of Prince Paul Demidoff. Prince Paul was the sole heir of the great Russian émigré art collector Anatole Demidoff, 1^st Prince of Donato, who had famously commissioned Lorenzo Bartolini to create the remarkable Monument to Nicola Demidoff (Anatole’s father) in Florence. The present bust is superbly carved, particularly in the lacework shawl that falls about the shoulders of Princess Elena, who was only 26 when she sat for the bust. Note the delicately carved curls of hair which fall upon her forehead, as well as the flowers and the coat of arms on the socle, all beautifully rendered.