Giovanni Battista Lombardi | Veiled Woman

Giovanni Battista Lombardi (1822-1877) was a prominent Italian sculptor of the 19th century, originally from Rezzato, near Brescia. After moving to Rome, he studied under the leading neoclassical sculptor Pietro Tenerani, which grounded his style in classical ideals of beauty and harmony.

Lombardi's work is celebrated for its blend of the cool perfection of Neoclassicism with the growing trend toward the emotional depth of Realism. He became highly sought after for two specialties: moving funerary monuments and idealized female figures. A significant portion of his career was dedicated to creating sculptures for the Campo Santo Vantiniano, a monumental cemetery in Brescia, where his work was praised for its quiet, human emotion.

Internationally, Lombardi is best known for his masterful sculptures of veiled women. This subject was a popular test of a sculptor's skill in the 19th century, requiring them to create a trompe-l'œil (deceive the eye) illusion of transparent fabric from a single block of hard marble. This technical brilliance was not just an artistic feat; during the Risorgimento (the unification of Italy), such works were a powerful symbol of renewed Italian cultural pride and artistic genius. Lombardi created several variations of the veiled woman, each unique in its expression and composition.

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