Woman washing a child's hair

Description

Of this beautiful invention by Valerio Cioli, which seems vaguely reminiscent in theme of the now-destroyed 'Laundress' of Pratolino, the name of the author and the theme were lost during the removal from its place of origin carried out before 1789. Of the group there is no engraving by Vascellini, and Inghirami in 1819, observing its "graceful concept for a fountain," contradicted the idea that it was 'Venus and Love,' the subject with which the group in question was known in those years. The only document attesting to Cioli's ownership of the 'Lavacapo' is a copy of a letter from the sculptor dated July 31, 1599: it recalls that he was awaiting orders from the Grand Duke to go to Carrara "to quarry marbles, de dua nani e de dua contadini per acompagnare la lavacapo, che e di già fatto, e Modelli di questi che di già V. A. had given him the order ". From what we are able to tell, the group would seem to have already been finished and that date. From the child's recumbent hair flowed water that ended up in Neptune's fishpond or nursery.