Alfredo Pina (1887-1966) - "bust Of A Man"

Very beautiful bronze proof Satin slate patina Signed on the back “A. Pina” in wax Lost wax by Attilio Valsuani – Bears the stamp “A. Valsuani” Base in light beige marble Circa 1940 Height without the base: 45 cm Width: 19 cm – Depth: 12 cm Dimensions of the base: 14 x 14 x 14 cm Biography: Alfredo PINA (1887-1966) Born in Milan (Italy) After brilliant studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Milan, crowned with the Grand Prix national de sculpture in 1904 – the equivalent of our Prix de Rome, Alfredo Pina spent three years in Rome, before settling in Paris in 1911. Rodin noticed one of his sculptures, and asked him to join his workshop in as a practitioner; he remained there until his death in 1917. He frequented the circle of Italian artists, integrating into the artistic community in Montparnasse in the 1920s. Supported by the founder Valsuani, he presented a significant number of works in 1920 at the Galerie Allard. This exhibition was a great success, as was that of the Society of Italian Artists, which he subsequently organized in 1929. Seduced by the Nivernais Loire landscape, he bought a house in Mesves-sur-Loire, then the quarries of Pierre de Malvaux nearby, in order to honor his orders for memorials to the dead of the Great War; he created that of Mesves, which takes up a bronze exhibited in 1920, Pain. He returned to Paris, then Italy, where he took part in a universal competition launched by Mussolini, which he won with a project for a Monument to Dante. It will be his great work, but it will never be realized. Returning to France in 1929, he stayed in Paris for some time, then settled permanently in Mesves, with his wife. He participates in exhibitions in Nevers, creates busts of friends or acquaintances who are also his patrons. He died in 1966, forgotten on the Parisian scene, in destitution. The collection of Mesves' workshop, acquired by the State, was deposited at the La Charité-sur-Loire museum in 1971. Pina, both in his portraits and in his monumental sculpture, is obviously influenced by the themes of Rodin, but his visual vocabulary is very personal to him. Paris Manaus Gallery