Fortuna Roman Goddess Bronze by Luca Madrassi

This large (52 inch) bronze by the Italian-born master, Luca Madrassi (1848-1919), depicts Fortuna (Fortunatina), the Roman goddess personifying good luck.

Born in Triecesimo, Italy, the artist moved to Paris to study at École des Beaux Arts where he studied under Pierre-Jules Cavelier. He joined the studio of Carrier-Belleuse where he was exposed to mythological and poetic female figures which would later be reflected in his oeuvre. He regularly exhibited at the Paris Salon between 1879 and 1914 and other international exhibitions in London and Liège at the end of the nineteenth century.  According to the Benezit Dictionary of Artists, he became a member of the Société des Artistes Français from 1890 and  received honourable mentions in 1881, 1882, 1883 and 1885, and a third-place medal in 1896.

His works in marble and bronze regularly appear at major auction.  A recent notable sale occurred at Sotheby's in New York on July 12, 2017, when Madrassi's marble statue of Clytie, 39 inches, was offered with an estimate of 30,000-50,000 GBP and sold for 68,750.

Related Literature:

P. Kjellberg, Bronzes of the 19th Century, Dictionary of Sculptors, London, 1994, pp. 445-446; E. Bénézit, Dictionnaire des peintres, sculpteurs, dessinateurs et graveurs, Gründ, 1999, vol. 8, p. 947