CIRCA 1860, PROBABLY BOLOGNA, IN THE MANNER OF ANGELO MINGHETTI

Angelo Minghetti (d. 1885), who founded his workshops in Bologna in 1858, exhibited his work at exhibitions held in Turin, London, Naples, Vienna and Paris. Minghetti took inspiration from his 'heroes' of the Renaissance period, most notably the sculptor Lucca della Robbia, who was famous for his large-scale works in polychrome earthenware. Four related busts of Roman Emperors, also attributed to the ceramicist Minghetti were acquired in 1885 by the South Kensington Museum, London (renamed the Victoria & Albert Museum).