Futurisme Buste met Brons Patina Finish - Renato Bertelli (1900-1974) - Bust, Profile continuo del Duce - 18.5 cm - Alabaster - 1995

This is a rare reproduction from 1995 of the famous artwork from 1933 titled 'Continuing Profile of the Duce', designed by the Italian artist Renato Bertelli (1900 - 1974), who was a prominent representative of the modern art movement Futurism, which rose to prominence during Mussolini's regime.

At first glance this does not resemble a bust, but a closer look reveals with wonder, from all sides of this artwork, the characteristic profile of Mussolini with his strong jawline.

Hence the title 'Continuing Profile of the Duce', since you perceive the profile of Mussolini continuously (360 degrees wide) no matter which side you turn the object: the profile remains visible, from left, right, front and back!

The genius design was (and still is) considered very groundbreaking, innovative and progressive for its time and evokes similarities with a mechanical component from the machine age, which aligned with Mussolini's self-proclaimed image as defender of the working class.

The bust, very unusually shaped, also symbolized "the omnipresent leader who always watched everyone and everything."

The Italian art critic Marco Moretti described it as follows: The plastic dynamics of this profile of the Duce, visible from every point, launched "without rhetoric the metaphor of a watchful and sleepless leader who sees and guards everything."

Conceptually the design is related to stop-motion photography, and that did not escape the famous photographer Robert Mapplethorpe either: He made a well-known art photograph of an example of this bust (see Google 'Mapplethorpe Mussolini bust').

This alabaster reproduction, which is in good condition, is extraordinary in appearance and quality because it is finished with a bronze finish and mounted on a marble pedestal.

The bust is firmly mounted on the marble base and the entire object (the two parts together) measures 18.5 cm high, 9.5 cm wide and 9.5 cm deep and weighs approximately 1.6 kilograms.

The object is shipped immediately after purchase with a Track & Trace delivery, very sturdily packed.