Portrait of Pietro Mellini

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The Bust of Pietro Mellini is a Marvelous Marble Masterpiece by Benedetto da Maiano. Dated 1474 and Displayed with Pride in the Bargello Museum in Florence, this Stunning Sculpture Measures an Impressive 54x60 cm. Pietro Mellini was a Successful Florentine Merchant, Known for His Frequent Collaborations with the Medici Family. He Had Commissioned Several Projects from Benedetto da Maiano, Including the Pulpit of Santa Croce, Featuring Stories of Saint Francis. An Inscription on the Marble Recalls the Name of the Portrayed and the Date 1474. Once Belonging to Luigi Ricceri Campani, this Priceless Bust Was Purchased by the Florentine Galleries in 1825. Later, During the Nineteenth Century, It Passed into the Hands of the National Museum Established at the Bergello in 1865. This Bust is a Masterful Representation of an Elderly Man, Crafted with Extreme Attention to Detail and Realism. The Expression on His Face, Characterized by Tight Lips and Ruffled Forehead, Suggests a Complex Emotion - from Skepticism to Watchful Awareness. The Dress, Fashioned in Fine Brocatello, is Rendered with Unmatched Technical Skill. The Intricate Arabesques of the Decoration Seem to Come Alive Under the Folds, while a Flap of the Dress Falls Nonchalantly onto His Right Shoulder. Throughout this Masterpiece, Benedetto da Maiano Strikes an Expert Balance between Naturalism and Idealized Composition. This is Evident in his References to Roman Portraiture and Demonstrates his Exceptional Technical Prowess, Making Him One of the Most Sought-After Artists of His Time in Florence.