| From
the Past.. The
quality of a reproduction is of the greatest importance. In an original
work of merit there is a subtleness of treatment- a certain feeling which,
if captured in reproduction, places the finished piece within the realm
of art itself.
Florentine master craftsman Pietro
Caproni practiced the art of creating quality reproductions. Druing the
last two decades of the 19th century, he traveled through Europe making
molds directly from masterpieces in museums such as the Louvre, the National
Museum in Athens, the Vatican, the Uffizi Gallery, and the British Museum.
Considered the greatest craftsman of his time, Caproni was one of the
last to be allowed the freedom of casting directly from museum pieces.
In 1900 Pietro Caproni constructed
the Caproni Gallery building, at 1920 Washington Street in Boston, to
cast and house his reproductions. He made them available to museums, schools,
and private connoisseurs through an illustrated catalogue which listed
over 2500 casts, including such extraordinary pieces as the full-size
Winged Victory of Samothrace and Michelangelo's head of David. The Caproni
Gallery became the leading art gallery of its kind in the world. |
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To the present..
Some of Caproni's original molds
survived to the present day, and many of his catalogues can still be found
in the great libraries of this country. His methods, too, have survived,
as the Caproni tradition of a fine sense of artistry was carefully passed
down to the hands of his successor. The long tradition of craftsmanship
continues at the Giust Gallery.
Today, the Giust Gallery integrates
these old trade secrets with extensive knowledge of modern materials.
Our craftsmen are artists in their own right and are carefully trained
to hand cast and custom finish each piece to recreate the feeling of the
originals themselves.
These uniquely crafted reproductions
will add a timeless grace and beauty to any room. Their modest prices
bring them within reach of anyone who truly wishes to possess or to give
to another one of these fine recreations of the world's masterpieces. |
