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Giorgio RossiDiogenes, terracotta sculpture, 1939, Giorgio Rossi (1894-1981).1939
1939
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About the Item
**Diogenes.**
**Terracotta sculpture, 1939, Giorgio Rossi (1894-1981): Tuscan Sculptor.**
**Material:** Hand-modeled terracotta by the artist.
**Unique piece.**
**Dimensions:** Height 37 cm, Width 32 cm, Depth 23 cm.
Diogenes, the Greek philosopher known for his rejection of material wealth and his pursuit of wisdom through simplicity, embodies a subject that deeply resonates with Giorgio Rossi's artistic sensibility. The choice of this theme in 1939-a period marked by political tensions and ideological struggles-suggests an introspective reflection on human freedom and detachment from social conventions. Diogenes' disdain for power and his provocative attitude toward established norms made him a timeless symbol of independence and philosophical resistance, themes that may have held particular significance for Rossi in the context of the time.
Rossi interprets this figure with a synthesis of form typical of late Art Deco, where expressive intensity is conveyed through a balance between stylization and realism. The sculptor captures the philosopher in a moment of deep contemplation, emphasizing essential forms and a strong sculptural presence that highlights his mastery of the medium.
The use of terracotta aligns with the Tuscan artistic tradition, which, from the Etruscan era to the Renaissance, reflects a strong connection with the land and its rich clay resources in the Florentine and Sienese territories. This bond with the past is fused with the modernity of form, making this sculpture a unique testimony to Rossi's mature artistic language.
The sculpture is documented in the catalogues of Giorgio Rossi's collections.
**Provenance:**
Coming directly from the master's legacy to his family, the work has remained in the collection of his heirs, preserved as a testament to Rossi's artistic maturity. The work reflects the balance between tradition and innovation typical of the late Art Deco period, underlining the artist's ability to blend expressive force and formal refinement.
**Condition:**
Excellent state of preservation.
**Exhibitions:**
This work belongs to the period in which Rossi participated in prestigious national exhibitions, such as the Venice Biennale (1930, 1936), where his works were praised for their technical quality and ability to interpret modernity without betraying tradition.
**Artist Biography:**
Giorgio Rossi (1894-1981) was a Tuscan sculptor known for his ability to interpret realism and figurative tradition with a modern sensibility. Born in Florence, he trained at the Academy of Fine Arts under the guidance of Antonio Bortone. His works, often made of terracotta and alabaster, are characterized by a synthesis of form that highlights the expressive power of the subject through a refined and modern language.
He participated in prestigious exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale (1930, 1936), receiving praise for the technical quality and originality of his works. For over thirty years, he taught at the Artistic and Industrial School of Volterra, influencing generations of artists and contributing to the artistic renewal of Tuscany. Rossi's works, often from the family legacy, testify to his contribution to 20th-century Italian sculpture, with a vision that combines tradition and innovation, Etruscan roots, and modern sensibility.
- Creator:Giorgio Rossi (1894 - 1981, Italian)
- Creation Year:1939
- Dimensions:Height: 14.57 in (37 cm)Width: 12.6 in (32 cm)Depth: 9.06 in (23 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Firenze, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2464215964852
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Description:
This elegant terracotta sculpture, signed and dated 1945, depicts a young nude woman standing next to a tree trunk, with her hands raised and resting behind her head. The figure strikes a delicate balance between introspection and poise, without ever falling into the rigidity of academic mannerism.
Carved with particular attention to the curving lines and the fluid rhythm of the pose, the sculpture recalls a quiet classical sensuality filtered through the lens of a refined Tuscan humanism. The work is representative of Rossi's mature style, marked by a return to essential forms and the influence of the 15th-century Florentine masters, notably Donatello.
The figure's relaxed yet composed posture, the lean and well-structured anatomy, and the harmony of proportions reflect the sculptor's pursuit of spiritual truth through simplicity of form. The sculpture is an expressive synthesis of grace and inner calm, in line with Rossi's aesthetic ideals in the immediate postwar period.
A discreet and well-executed restoration is visible at the waist and right arm. According to the artist's family, the damage was caused by the devastating flood of November 1966, which affected his studio on Via degli Artisti in Florence. The restoration was done with care and respect for the original patina.
Condition:
In good overall condition, with traces of an old restoration (waist and arm), consistent with the flood of 1966 in Florence, as confirmed by the artist's family.
Provenance: Directly from the family of the artist.
Exhibitions (selected participations by the artist):
- 1906, 1912-13, 1916-18: Society of Fine Arts, Florence
- 1920: Exhibition of Sacred Art, Venice
- 1925: Prince Umberto Prize, Milan Permanente
- 1930, 1936: Venice Biennale
- 2007: Giorgio Rossi. Sculptor in the Short Century, Palazzo Panciatichi, Florence
- 2010: Voices from within. The Sculpture of Giorgio Rossi, Sala delle Colonne, Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze
- 2011: In the Sign of the Sieve, Hall of Heroines, Municipal Palace, Pontassieve
- 2013: Faces from the past. Giorgio Rossi and his Muses, Medici Riccardi Palace, Florence
Bibliography:
- Voices from within. The Sculpture of Giorgio Rossi, ed. Stefano De Rosa, Florence, Edizioni Polistampa, 2010, p. 69 (illustrated)
- Gigi Salvagnini, Giorgio Rossi. A Long Journey to the Twentieth Century, Centro Libero Andreotti, Florence, 2003, p. 20
About the artist:
Giorgio Rossi was born on January 13, 1892 in San Piero a Sieve, Tuscany.
Trained at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, he studied under Antonio Bortone, from whom he inherited a rigorous sculptural discipline and a strong sense of artistic integrity. Rossi debuted at the age of fourteen at the Annual Exhibition of the Società di Belle Arti in Florence in 1906 and went on to exhibit regularly in the following decade.
During the 1910s and 1920s, his work was showcased in major national exhibitions, including the Mostra d'Arte Sacra in Venice (1920), the Concorso Duprè in Florence, and the Milan Permanente.
He received awards and commissions for both public monuments and funerary sculptures, and in 1918 he was named honorary member of the prestigious Accademia delle Arti del Disegno.
In the 1930s, Rossi participated twice in the Venice Biennale (1930 and 1936), confirming his national relevance.
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