Bust of a Virgin or Saint Woman in poplar (?) carved in the - Lot 60

Bust of a Virgin or Saint Woman in poplar (?) carved in the round and polychromed. Harmonious face with downcast gaze, straight nose, friendly mouth, thin lips and sharp chin; beautiful expression of interiorized gentleness; the young woman wears a veil resting on the back of her head, revealing her raised hair, divided by a median parting. Tuscany, Florence, workshop of Benedetto da Maiano (Fiesole, 1442 - Florence, 1498), last quarter of the 15th century H. 36.5 cm - L. 46 cm (accidents and polychromatic repairs) Here, we recognize the great gentleness and humility of Benedetto da Maiano's Madonnas, as well as some of the physiognomy features characteristic of his female faces: lowered eyelids with rimmed lower eyelids, well-defined thin lips with subtle modeling and a slightly forward, generally acute chin. The Virgin in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (inv. 41.190.137) and the Virgin of Scarperia e San Piero, near Florence, are good examples (fig.a and b).