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Giorgio Rossi (1892–1963), a Tuscan sculptor active between Florence and Volterra, created this terracotta female figure in the 1930s, reflecting the spirit of the Italian Novecento and the formal vocabulary of Art Deco.
Condition: Excellent.
The sculpture depicts a reclining female nude, built on refined, elongated proportions typical of interwar modernism. The face with narrow, stylised eyes, the small head, and the posture evoke an aesthetic that blends Symbolist echoes, Deco linearity and a subtle return to the archaic. The figure acts as an archetype, an image of a nymph-like woman suspended between sleep, stillness and natural sensuality.
Rooted in Tuscan tradition, the piece also evokes poetic inspiration from the Etruscan era, imbuing the figure with an archaic and timeless elegance. Rossi masterfully blends realism with delicate stylization, achieving harmony and balance in the composition.
Signature: Signed at the base
Provenance: From the artist’s family, where it remained in their private collection until recently.
Unique piece, reflecting Rossi’s artistic maturity and his original interpretation of the female nude.
Biography of Giorgio Rossi
Giorgio Rossi (1894–1981) was an Italian sculptor whose works combine meditative realism and archaic influences, firmly positioned within the Tuscan figurative tradition of the early 20th century. Trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence under Antonio Bortone, Rossi developed a style marked by intense formal research and modern sensibilities, showing clear affinities with the poetics of Libero Andreotti.
His sculptures, often created in terracotta or alabaster, express a powerful emotional charge through a sober and essential language. Rossi participated in major national exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale (17th edition in 1930 and 20th edition in 1936), showcasing works such as Head of a Fat Man and Young Woman.
He also exhibited regularly at art shows in Tuscany and other Italian institutions, including the Tuscan Syndicate Exhibitions and the Sacred Art Exhibition. For nearly thirty years, Rossi taught drawing and sculpture at the Artistic and Industrial School of Volterra, influencing generations of artists and leaving a lasting impact on the local cultural scene.
His works, preserved by his descendants, highlight the depth and complexity of an artistic journey grounded in an intimate and humanistic vision of art.
