Luigi Voltolina (1942) - Maternita', Dama con Bambino

Author

Luigi Voltolina (1942) Italian painter. Born in Valona, he moved to Venice at the age of two and shaped his artistic identity in the fertile Venetian environment, studying at the Istituto d'Arte dei Carmini under the guidance of Mario Dinon. His creative journey has been marked from the beginning by an intense exhibition activity, which led him to engage with the cultural currents of major capitals such as Rome, where in the 1970s he participated in the prestigious X Quadriennale d’Arte, and Madrid, where encounters with Iberian folklore inspired new and evocative painting cycles. This international openness culminated in a deep connection with New York, a city that since the 1980s has become a fundamental source of inspiration for his exploration of modernity and the perception of time.

Voltolina's stylistic figure is defined by a neo-figurative language of great impact, characterized by an restless search that centers on the human figure captured in moments of intense dynamic and anatomical tension. Influenced by the existentialist suggestions of Francis Bacon, her painting translates complex states of mind onto the canvas. Alongside her painting production, the artist has successfully explored glass sculpture, collaborating with the masters of Murano, managing to transpose the expressive force of her mark into essential and tactile forms.

Description

"Maternity, Lady with Child", oil on canvas, 106*86cm with frame, 80*60cm the canvas alone, signed at the bottom left, 1971. On the back, title, signature, and date.

In this canvas, the artist reinterprets a classic theme of Western iconography through a highly modern neo-figurative language, placing the human figure at the center of a narrative charged with emotional and structural tension. The subject depicts a mother supporting her child in a solid and protective embrace; the composition, while recalling the pyramid stability of tradition, fragments into a series of chromatic planes that give dynamism to the figures. The woman's gaze, absorbed and almost melancholic, seems to reflect that inquiry into waiting and existential condition that characterizes much of the artist's work.

From a technical perspective, the work demonstrates the skillful management of light typical of Voltolina's Venetian training. The brushwork is vigorous and textured, particularly evident in the rendering of the garments where deep blues and earth tones intertwine in an almost architectural weave, perhaps foreshadowing the formal synthesis that the artist would later apply in his glass sculptures. This chromatic play contrasts with the softer application of the flesh tones, creating a luminous vibration that separates the volumes from the violet background. The painting fits into the artist's maturity path, showcasing his ability to combine plastic rigor with an restless and vital exploration, a result of his cultural exchanges between Venice and international metropolises. A painting of wise and balanced composition, with a beautiful and refined aesthetic impact.

Condition Report

Excellent overall condition. The work is intact in every part with vivid chroma and vivid, well-readable brushstrokes. The frame is to be considered a gift.

Tracked and insured shipment with adequate packaging.