The exhibition includes 15 works (paintings, sculptures in bronze, marble and stone), the famous Italian sculptor Quinto Martini, five of which were donated to the Hermitage

State Hermitage Museum, May 25 - June 30, 2013
Arapsky room (room number 155)

The State Hermitage Museum opened an exhibition of works by Italian sculptor Quinto Martini.

Quinto Martini was born in the town of Seano in Tuscany, near Florence, in a peasant family. He did not get the academic art education, but at the end of the 1920s began to exhibit in Prato and Florence. In 1940 Martini participated in the anti-fascist movement and was harassed by the authorities. Its main activity was developed after World War II in Florence. Here, for many years he headed the Department of Sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts. In the last years of his life Quinto Martini has created in his homeland in Seano, Park Museum, opened in 1988. Here, in the open air are 36 sculptures, sculpted master in different years.

• Quintus MARTINI Rain. 1967 Bronze
  Source: hermitagemuseum.org

Quinto Martini belongs to the realistic trend in the Italian plastics twentieth century. In his own words, in his writings, he sought to reflect a "simple vitality of this land." Presented at the exhibition works adequately reflect the creativity of the master since 1920.

sculptor belongs to a series of expressive portraits in which most clearly felt a deep interest in the art of the Renaissance, which he highly appreciated . An example of such a work can serve as a portrait bust of Mary (1935).

in Park Museum Martini important place animalistic sculpture: he was interested in a variety of plastic body of animals, from snails and snakes. As the figure presented in the exhibition "Rooster" (1981), a sculptor not only successfully conveys the appearance of birds, but gives it its own character, which makes the product in a humorous tone.

Quintus MARTINI Rooster. 1981 Bronze Source: hermitagemuseum.org

Quintus MARTINI Alcheev. 1942 Bronze Source: hermitagemuseum.org

Master constantly practiced his art, creating numerous small figurines. It is most commonly portrayed girls and young women in various poses. The most successful of them, then cast in bronze or even translated into a monumental scale. So, a little "naked girl" can be viewed as a prototype of "Alchei" created in the same 1942. Despite the traditional character of the plot, we can see the interest in the new interpretation of the theme: reclining nude woman seen without a shadow of a doubt, as a contemporary sculptor. Yet it seems more modern "Nature", presented in the form of a seated naked woman. The shapes of her body treated generally, it seems that in general is not typical for Martini, but is associated with other sculptors of the twentieth century - in particular, the works of Constantin Brancusi.

Quintus MARTINI Nature Bronze Source: hermitagemuseum.org

Quintus MARTINI Beggar. 1981 Bronze Source: hermitagemuseum.org

In some works Martini produces a particular interpretation of the human figure, giving up too much detail, but keeping the basic plastic body. This slightly schematized manner gives it a kind of expressive statues. An example of such a work can serve as a "Beggar" (1981), in which an elderly woman is shown standing with an outstretched hand. Cardboard box, which she threw on his head to protect from rain, making a figure more acute.

The exhibition includes 15 works (paintings, sculptures in bronze, marble and stone), provided State Hermitage Commune of Carmignano and the Friends of the Hermitage (Italy).

Five sculptures, displayed in the exhibition, Ms. Teresa Martini Bigazzi, the heiress of the sculptor, brings a gift to the State Hermitage ("Alcheev" , "Nature", "Rain", "Rooster", "Beggar»).

exhibition is organized by the State Hermitage Museum in collaboration with the Society of Friends of the Hermitage (Italy). The curator of the exhibition - Sergey O. Androsov, head of the Department of Western European Art of the State Hermitage Museum.

Source : hermitagemuseum.org