A BRONZE FIGURE OF SANTA BIBIANA

Details
A BRONZE FIGURE OF SANTA BIBIANA
ATTRIBUTED TO GIANLORENZO BERNINI, ROMAN, EARLY 17TH CENTURY

The heavily draped saint gazing to her left and standing in contrapposto, resting against a column issuing from modelled ground with foliage, her left hand resting on her right thigh and gathering her garments close to her, her right arm resting on the column with her right hand raised, her sandalled feet protruding from beneath her garments ----- 18½ in.(47cm.) high, rich coppery red patina with black lacquer
Provenance
Michael Hall, New York

Lot Essay

Little is known about St. Bibiana, or Viviana, a martyr whose feast day is celebrated on December 2nd. In the fifth century, a church was dedicated in her honor in Rome on the Esquiline hill and her relics were said to be there, but all historical knowledge of her is lost. She has been given a part together with a number of other saints, real or imaginary, in a cycle round the ficticious story of Pimenius or Pigmenius, which is related in turn to the legend of Sts. John and Paul.