Vestiges of War - Mid-Century Surrealism, 63 x 53 in.
EZIO (AZIO) MARTINELLI
Vestiges of War - Mid-Century Surrealism, 63 x 53 in.
Main Attributes:
Artist:Ezio (Azio) Martinelli Title:Vestiges of War - Mid-Century Surrealism, 63 x 53 in. Work:Sculpture Foundry / Edition:one-of-a-kind - 1 of 1 Medium:Bronze Substrate:Metal Date:c. 1954 Signed: Estate Stamp/Rep. Size:67.00" x 53.00" x 28.00" Pricing:Price Upon Request Details:This fantastic, war-torn, post-apocalyptic hybridized being by Ezio Martinelli, represents the zenith in mid-century surrealist sculpture. Martinelli's body of surrealist - large scale- works from the mid-century are one of the most important discoveries in "New York School" sculpture - in perhaps decades.
These meticulously welded modernist works took a tremendous amount of time to complete - Martinelli, a master technician, constructed these seminal works by hand - from start to finish - by a process of building up welds with small bronze welding rods (sometimes thousands) - layer by layer until the final composition emerged.
Martinelli was best friends with David Smith and both were part of the venerable roster of modern masters represented by the Marion Willard Gallery in Ney York City during the peak of the New York School. Martinelli was the only other sculptor represented by Willard to have a longer tenure than Smith’s - Martinelli was represented for over twenty years starting in 1946 and Smith, one of the most sought after sculptors in America, was represented by Willard for 18 years.
*Norman Lewis, a pivotal African-American Abstract artist stated: “I have known him [Mark Tobey] about 20 years and this was a rich environment. I knew Richard Lippold, David Smith, a very talented guy who accidentally was killed in an automobile accident, and there is Ezio Martinelli. The artists were almost like a stable of horses, the artists that Marion [Willard] had…” *Smithsonian
Provenance:
The Artist
The artists estate.
Millins / Van de Bovenkamp Collection; acquired from above.
BENTON GALLERY, acquired from above.
We represent the Martinelli Estate works.