Sculpture, Icaro - 35 cm - Earthenware

Icarus – Sculpted in patinated terracotta, 20th century

Figurative sculpture in patinated terracotta, dateable to the 20th century, depicting Icarus, one of the most intense subjects of classical mythology.

The work represents the young hero in a strongly dynamic and dramatic pose. The body, taut and projecting upward, suggests the moment of flight, the challenge and the imminent fall. The deliberately tactile modeling, with irregular surfaces, incisions, reliefs and traces of patination, gives the figure an expressive and almost tormented character.

Particularly interesting is the surface treatment, characterized by a dark patina with metallic reflections and coppery tones, which gives the terracotta the visual appearance of an ancient bronze. The lighter areas and abrasions further highlight the sculpture’s plasticity and the craftsman’s manual work.

The subject of Icarus assumes here a modern reading: not only the myth of the man who flies too close to the sun, but also a representation of ambition, the desire to surpass one’s limits, freedom and human fragility.

A work with strong stage presence, suitable both for a 20th-century sculpture collection and for a contemporary environment.

Material: patinated terracotta
Subject: Icarus
Era: 20th century
Dimensions: approx. 35 × 25 × 22 cm
Conditions: good overall condition compatible with age and with the particular material treatment of the work. Any irregularities, abrasions and variations of the patina are part of the sculpture’s character.