Centuries-old sculpture from legendary Italian artist discovered at salvage yard
A modest 27‑inch marble maquette of Pope Clement XII has turned up where few would expect – a reclamation yard in Wiltshire, England. The figure, identified as the work of Pietro Bracci, the 18th‑century Roman sculptor best known for his contributions to the Trevi Fountain, was spotted by a collector sifting through the yard’s inventory.
The portrait was originally commissioned by the Roman Senate in the 1730s as a bronze tribute to the pope’s donation to the Capitoline Museums. Its survival in marble provides a rare, tangible link to the papal court and the lavish artistic culture of the period, a fact that experts describe as “exceptionally exciting.”
Despite being bought for only $400, the piece is slated for auction on Oct. 8 with an estimate of $6,600–$13,300. Specialists such as Mark Yuan Richards highlight the rarity of an eighteenth‑century marble figure by Bracci, calling the upcoming sale a remarkable opportunity for collectors.