Notes

In contrast to the organic shape of the tall Edoardo Villa Mother and Child bronze sculpture, first cast in 1983, the rendering of the same subject matter in the present lot, a majestic two-metre-tall bronze figural composition of a mother carrying a baby on her back, first cast in 1963, is more cubist in nature. The sculpture initially appears to be consisting of mainly vertical lines and block-like shapes, lines criss-crossing each other, and shapes stacked on top of one another, protruding and receding in an interplay of a complicated three-dimensional puzzle. On closer inspection, though, a statuesque human figure crystalises out of this intricate network of lines and shapes, the baby on the back discovered visually almost incidentally. The intuitive sense of balance, infallible eye for symmetry, and dedication to precision-like craftmanship make this work the quintessential Villa sculpture, even though Villa is first and foremost known for his steel works, not his early bronzes. Mother and Child clearly relates to the classical training Villa received in Italy before coming to South Africa. It is a recurring theme in the art and sculpture Villa likely first encountered at the Scuola d’Arte Andrea Fantoni, where he studied, and, more generally, in the Italian art world of pre-World War II Rome.

Exhibited

Edoardo Villa Uitstalling, Helpmekaar Kollege, Braamfontein, 13 October-20 November 2011.

Literature

Edoardo Villa Uitstalling, Helpmekaar Kollege, Braamfontein, 13 October-20 November 2011, catalogue, another cast from the edition illustrated in colour on page 24.