UGO CIPRIANI (Florence, 1887 - Paris, 1960).
"The Strongman, 1930s.
Bronzed terracotta.
Signed.
With stamp "Terre Cuite d'Art".
Size: 45 x 77 x 23 cm.
Ornamental sculpture in round bulk, made in bronzed terracotta, with the shape of a young strong man with a naturalistic complexion, executing a movement in tension. It is a realistic work in its modelling but rigorous and geometric in its composition, perfectly reflecting the aesthetic basis of Art Deco. On the other hand, the figure is represented almost naked in order to avoid any reference to time, seeking an ideal and absolute image of movement, without concessions to decorative or accessory elements.
Son of the sculptor Adolfo Cipriani, Ugo trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence. One of his best known works is a bronze monument (1919) to the Italian nationalist Guglielmo Oberdan, now in the square of the same name in Florence. In 1935, Ugo Cipriani emigrated to France to escape Mussolini's fascist regime.