Virgin worshipping the Infant Christ with St John the Baptist. Plaster cast purchased from Oronzio Lelli in 1890 after 19th century relief by Giovanni Bastianini.

Bas-relief depicting the Virgin worshipping the Infant Christ with St John the Baptist. There is a spandrel below the family with an angel.

This plaster cast was bought from Oronzio Lelli for 8s 4d (10 lire) in 1890.

Giovanni Bastianini (b. 17 September 1830; d. Florence, 29 June 1868) was a sculptor and forger working for the Florentine antique dealer Giovanni Freppa from 1848 to 1866. Bastianini designed and produced numerous busts and bas-reliefs modelled after Renaissance examples, most of which Freppa sold as authentic.

The V&A possesses numerous sculptures by Bastianini. The most well-known are his bust of Girolamo Savonarola, and his Virgin and Child with Two Cherub Heads, which copied the styles of Desiderio da Settignano and Antonio Rossellino.

A large proportion of casts were taken from Italian Renaissance monuments and reliefs, and many cast manufacturers were based in Italy. The manufacturer most widely represented in the Cast Courts is Oronzio Lelli, whose Florence-based firm produced high quality work from all periods.

19th century plaster cast after 19th century sculpture by Giovanni Bastianini

This bas-relief depicts the Virgin worshipping the Infant Christ with St John the Baptist. There is a winged angel in the spandrel, who looks up towards the family with his hands clasped in prayer.

Giovanni Bastianini carved the original relief in the 19th century. Bastianini lived most of his life in Florence, and many of his sculptures were sold by the antiques dealer Giovanna Freppa as Renaissance originals.

REPRO.1890-41