Antoniucci Volti (1915-1989) Large medal

About this piece

Large bronze medal (Ø17 cm) designed by Antoniucci Volti. This Italian/French artist is world famous for his sculptures of nudes, mainly women. This medal is actually a relief in bronze. His work is so recognizable by the curves of his models. His sculptures are often cast in terracotta or bronze with a dark patina.

However, Volti has also made some medals, this is one of them. A very good example of his style. In his drawings contour lines are always very important.

This medal was only cast in an edition of 150 copies, this is number 13. The medal is signed with 'Volti', 'bronze' and the number '13/150' and the date '1967'.

Biography:
Antoniucci Volti (It./Fr. 1915-1989), his official name was Voltigero, was born in Albano, Italy, but moved with his family in 1920 to Villefrance-sur-Mer, where he also obtained French nationality.
His father worked as a professional stonemason.

Antoniucci studied from 1928 to 1930 at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Nice. In 1932 he won a gold medal for two reliefs at the Salon de Marseille. He then decided that he wanted to continue his studies at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris, he became a student of Jean Boucher.
In 1936 he won the second prize at the Grand Prix de Rome for sculptures.

During World War II he was mobilized and was eventually interned as a prisoner of war in Bavaria. After his liberation, he returned to Paris in very bad health, where he found his studio and all his previous work destroyed by a bombing raid.

He had to start all over again and he developed his own style, separate from his former teachers, his work became more personal and he started to sign his work with Volti.

His work was entirely devoted to the woman, not so much he wanted to portray her personality, but as he himself described it, the architecture of her body interested him most. He called himself an architect of sensuality.

His sculptures are round, smooth and human, they are alive. There is intimacy. His work is often compared to the sculptor Maillol, and his work is certainly based on the tradition of Maillol and Rodin. However Volti was very much inspired by the work of Henri Moore, his work attracts him a lot, especially the simplicity of the lines in Moore's work.

In addition to his sculptures, Volti has also made numerous studies of his models in pencil, charcoal or chalk.

From 1947 he started exhibiting again at the various Salons, and in 1950 he was also appointed professor of wood sculpture at the School of Applied Art in Paris.
In 1954 and 1955 he took part in the Biennales in Brussels and Antwerp.
In 1957 a major retrospective of his work was organized at the Rodin Museum in Paris.

He has had also many public commissions for his sculptures, his sculptures can be found in several cities including Paris, Angers, Colombe and Orleans.

Antoniucci Volti (Voltigero) passed away on 14 December 1989.

Antoniucci Volti is seen as one of the most important late modern sculptors who worked figuratively in the 20th century.

Works by Volti are in leading museums such as the Musée National d'Art Moderne in Paris, where his sculptures are part of the permanent collection.
The Musée Volti and Fondation Volti, in Villefranche, is a museum entirely devoted to his work.

Literature:
- Pierre Descargues; 'Volti', Collection 'Artistes de ce temps', Les Presses Littéraires de France, Paris, 1949.
- Jean-Robert Delahaut; 'Volti, sculptures and designs', Éditions Pierre Cailler, Geneva, 1968.

Condition

Excellent