Renato Bertelli (1900-1974) - Profilo continuo del Duce
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Selected by Silvia Possanza
Held senior specialist role at Finarte for 12 years, specialising in modern prints.
Estimate € 300 - € 400
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Renato Bertelli’s Profilo continuo del Duce is a resin bust finished in silver on a black lacquered wooden base, 18 cm tall by 10 cm wide and 10 cm deep, weighing 1.2 kg, unsigned, Realismo, dating to 1933 in Italy.
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Description from the seller
This is a rare reproduction of the famous 1933 masterpiece entitled 'Continuous Profile of the Duce,' designed by the Italian artist Renato Bertelli (1900 - 1974), who was an important representative of the modern artistic movement of Futurism, which gained momentum during Mussolini's regime.
At first glance, this does not look like a bust, but a closer look reveals, with wonder, from every side of this artwork, the characteristic profile of Mussolini with his powerful jawline.
Hence the title 'Continuous Profile of the Duce,' as the profile of Mussolini is continuously recognizable (360 degrees) no matter which side the object is turned: the profile remains visible from the left, from the right, front, and back!
The brilliant design was considered (and still is) very innovative, avant-garde, and progressive for that era, and it evokes similarities with a mechanical component of the machine age, which aligned with Mussolini's self-proclaimed image as defender of the working class.
The bust, unusual in design, was also a symbol of the 'omnipresent leader who always kept everything and everyone under control.'
Italian art critic Marco Moretti expressed it thus: 'The dynamic plasticity of this profile of the Duce, visible from every point, launched—without rhetoric—the metaphor of a vigilant and tireless leader who sees and protects all.'
The concept behind it is tied to the design of stop-motion photography, and this did not escape the famous photographer Robert Mapplethorpe: he produced a famous artistic photograph of an exemplar of this bust (see Google 'Mapplethorpe Mussolini bust').
This resin reproduction is extraordinary in appearance and quality because it is finished with a silver-colored finish layer and mounted on a ceramic base.
The resin bust, 14 cm tall, is firmly mounted on the black lacquered wood base, 4 cm high, and the entire object (the two parts together) is 18 cm tall, 10 cm wide, and 10 cm deep, weighing 1.2 kilograms.
The item is shipped immediately after purchase with Track & Trace shipping, well packaged.
This is a rare reproduction of the famous 1933 masterpiece entitled 'Continuous Profile of the Duce,' designed by the Italian artist Renato Bertelli (1900 - 1974), who was an important representative of the modern artistic movement of Futurism, which gained momentum during Mussolini's regime.
At first glance, this does not look like a bust, but a closer look reveals, with wonder, from every side of this artwork, the characteristic profile of Mussolini with his powerful jawline.
Hence the title 'Continuous Profile of the Duce,' as the profile of Mussolini is continuously recognizable (360 degrees) no matter which side the object is turned: the profile remains visible from the left, from the right, front, and back!
The brilliant design was considered (and still is) very innovative, avant-garde, and progressive for that era, and it evokes similarities with a mechanical component of the machine age, which aligned with Mussolini's self-proclaimed image as defender of the working class.
The bust, unusual in design, was also a symbol of the 'omnipresent leader who always kept everything and everyone under control.'
Italian art critic Marco Moretti expressed it thus: 'The dynamic plasticity of this profile of the Duce, visible from every point, launched—without rhetoric—the metaphor of a vigilant and tireless leader who sees and protects all.'
The concept behind it is tied to the design of stop-motion photography, and this did not escape the famous photographer Robert Mapplethorpe: he produced a famous artistic photograph of an exemplar of this bust (see Google 'Mapplethorpe Mussolini bust').
This resin reproduction is extraordinary in appearance and quality because it is finished with a silver-colored finish layer and mounted on a ceramic base.
The resin bust, 14 cm tall, is firmly mounted on the black lacquered wood base, 4 cm high, and the entire object (the two parts together) is 18 cm tall, 10 cm wide, and 10 cm deep, weighing 1.2 kilograms.
The item is shipped immediately after purchase with Track & Trace shipping, well packaged.
Details
Era
1900-2000
Country of origin
Italy
Style
Realism
Material
Resin, Wood
Artist
Renato Bertelli (1900-1974)
Title of artwork
Profilo continuo del Duce
Signature
Not signed
Colour
Silver
Condition
Excellent condition
Height
18 cm
Width
10 cm
Depth
10 cm
Weight
1.2 kg
