Professor Aristide Petrilli (Italian, 1868-1930)
A very fine and exceptionally carved late 19th Century Italian marble wellhead.

The Renaissance style wellhead being of cylindrical form having a projecting rim above a continuous frieze of cavorting amorini among grapevines, flowers, and fruit with dancing maidens playing musical instruments as well as various animals. The wellhead is surmounted by a wrought iron superstructure with scroll work.

Dimensions overall: Ht: 95.5" Wd: 39.5" Dpth: 38.5"

Dimensions of marble wellhead only: Ht: 30" Diameter:38"

Dimensions of iron section only Ht: 65.5" x Wd: 39.5"

The Italian tradition of fine carved marble wellheads, relief sculpted with light hearted motifs was strongest in the Veneto. The use of frivolous subject matter such as cavorting amorini reflected the nature and use of the wellheads, in that while they were intended to provide one of life's basic necessities -the free supply of clean and healthy water, the object that the wellheads successfully achieved was seen as a luxury and something in which joy and happiness should be derived from As focal points in the central positions of often grand or important squares, it was also apt to create wellheads that were significant aesthetically as well as having a functional purpose.

About the Artist:
Professor Aristide Petrilli was an Italian sculptor active from the late 1800s to early 1900s, who created the Bacchantes sculpture now stationed in the mall park in Atascadero. Petrilli was born in Tivoli, Lazio, and studied in Florence at the Art Institute and subsequently the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze from 1889-90. He worked with Raffaello Romanelli before establishing his own studio at via Serragli, 152, in Florence. He specialised in romanticized figures of classical and historical themes, often using coloured marbles or bronze or gilt highlights, and is most remembered for his maidens in the Renaissance style. Petrilli's works were exhibited in the Salon of the Soci t des Artistes Fran ais in 1896 . He subsequently exhibited a bust of Joan of Arc at the Paris Exposition Universelle (1900), and Wrestling Bacchantes at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition (St. Louis World's Fair). The Wrestling Bacchantes is now displayed in the Atascadero, California, Sunken Gardens, and several other pieces at the Hearst Castle. His realistic bronze Ritratto di Giacomo Puccini is now in Montevarchi, Italy. It is also reported that in 1924 he created the plaque commemorating the Caduti per la Soc. Sportiva Sempre Avanti in Florence.