Pair of obelisks; Grand Tour, Italy, 19th century. Carved... Lot 23

Pair of obelisks; Grand Tour, Italy, 19th century. Carved marble. With faults and restorations. Provenance: private collection conceived since the 1970s between London and Madrid. Measurements: 61,5 x 12 x 12 cm (x2). The obelisk is a decorative piece that is highly appreciated all over the world. It is a stone monument in the shape of a pillar, with a square section, with four equal trapezoidal faces, slightly convergent, topped at the top by a small pyramid. Obelisks were used prominently in Ancient Egypt. The term 'Grand Tour', which first appeared in Richard Lassels's 'Voyage d'Italie', was used to define the long journey through Europe, especially Italy, which was commonly undertaken by young British aristocrats from the 17th century onwards, but especially throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. The purpose of the journey was for young people to become acquainted with the art and culture of mainly France and Italy, to admire classical art at first hand, to learn or improve their knowledge of languages, and to establish contacts and relationships with the cultural and political elites of these countries. Travellers were often looking for pieces with which to start their own art collections, objects to take back to their places of residence as souvenirs. For this reason, workshops specialising in the replication of Roman pieces, both in bronze and marble, sprang up, some of which acquired a great reputation.