Medardo Rosso Il Birichino Italian Bronze Bust Mid 20C

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Medardo Rosso Il Birichino Italian Bronze Bust Mid 20C
Description: Patinated bronze bust, "Il Birichino" (Street urchin). Signed in the lower left of the cast: "M Rosso 3/3". The sculpture is mounted on a stained wooden base.

This bronze is from the estate of the late Jacob B. Weintraub, renowned New York art dealer.

The bust is believed to be an original posthumous casting; however, the work has not been authenticated by the leading Rosso expert residing in Italy.

Medardo Rosso (Italian, 1858-1928). With his sculptures, Rosso fought against monumental sculpture, beginning with his first works La Ruffiana, Gavroche, Lovers Under the Lamplight, Carne Altrui, The Concierge. When his family moved from Turin, where he was born in 1858, to Milan, Rosso attended Brera Academy, starting in 1882. In 1883 he was expelled for having instigated a protest among the students. In 1885 he married Giuditta Pozzi and his son Francesco was born. The following year he made a portrait of the mother and son entitled Amor Materno. In 1889 he went to Paris, where he resided for several years. From these years date the sculptures: Sick Man at the Hospital, Sick Child, Bambino al Seno, Laughing Child, Portrait of Henri Rouart. In the beginning of the 1890's he made: Rieuse, Grande Rieuse, Bambino alle Cucine Economiche, Bookmaker, Reading Man, in which he achieved the dissolution of matter-a concept that he would develop further through a deep study and practice of photography. In 1896 he went to London, where he exhibited with the Pre-Raphaelites. In 1900 he presented some works at the Universal Paris Exhibition, where he met Etha Fles, who from this point on was an important presence both artistically and personally. He exhibited also in Berlin, Leipzig, and at the Vienna Secession. In 1904 he took part in the Salon d'Automne exhibition in the same room as Cezanne's "The Bathers", also hanging some of his photographs on the wall. In 1906 is the review of the London International and the Royal Society Gallery Cremetti Piccadilly where he reveals for the first time the Ecce Puer. In 1912 Boccioni personally mailed him a copy of the manifesto of Futurist Sculpture, where he explicitly addressed Rosso as the only artistic precedent that the Futurists would acknowledge. At the beginning of the First World War he returned to Italy. In 1914 he was invited to participate at the 9th International Art Exhibition in Venice where he presented 20 works. He was accompanied by his son Francesco. Even after the end of the war he rarely returned to Paris. He preferred instead to exhibit in Milan at the Bottega di Poesia in 1923 and at the Palazzo della Permanente for the first Show of Italian Art of the 1900s (1926). His last sculpture was Ecce Puer, dating 1906, but his work did not stop after this date. His research to achieve the dissolution of matter still captivated the new generation of artists. Due to some photographic plates that fell on his foot, producing an infection, he died in Milan on March 31st 1928. His sculptures are preserved in the most important museums of the world. [Source: www.medardorosso.org] Dimensions: Bronze: Height: (lowest point of base to top of head) 12 1/2in. Width: (base) 7 1/4in. (head) 6 1/2in. Length: (base) 6 1/4in. (head) 6 1/2in.

Wooden base: Height: 5 1/2in. Width: 5 1/4in.

Height: (bottom of wooden base to top of head): 14in. Weight: 17lbs. 8oz. (Box P) Condition: The bronze features a brown patina with traces of verdigris oxidation. There is some pitting to the bronze casting. Areas of minor dirt/dust throughout the surface, particularly in areas with pitting. There is some rubbing/wear to the patina along the raised surfaces. There are a few very minor scratches/wear marks to the surface of the bronze figure. The lower portion of the stand is missing and the bust would most likely to be mounted to a new base/support. Wooden base features several minor nicks, chips and scratches throughout, particularly along edges. Otherwise, the piece is in good condition overall.