Ugo Cipriani - Ugo Cipriani - Bust, The Archer - 37 cm - Terracotta

lot/ugo cipriani ugo cipriani bust the archer 37 cm terracotta 1930 3t7xzKU 632956833 / For sale

lot/ugo cipriani ugo cipriani bust the archer 37 cm terracotta 1930 3t7xzKU 632956833

For salePrice history

lot/ugo cipriani ugo cipriani bust the archer 37 cm terracotta 1930 3t7xzKU 632956833

For salePrice history

Bring your auction to collectors worldwide!

Get listed now

Ugo Cipriani - Ugo Cipriani - Bust, The Archer - 37 cm - Terracotta - 1930

A striking and highly expressive French Art Deco sculpture by Ugo Cipriani (1887–1960), depicting a young archer captured at the very height of concentration and physical tension. Executed in patinated terracotta with a rich bronze-effect finish, the sculpture presents the archer in a dramatic horizontal composition: his torso twists powerfully while one arm stretches forward toward the bow and the other remains drawn across the body. The elongated silhouette, pronounced musculature and flowing treatment of the drapery create a remarkable impression of suspended movement. Rather than representing the figure in a static classical pose, Cipriani captures the instant surrounding the release of the arrow. The result is an exceptionally dynamic composition in which the entire body appears charged with energy — from the sharply turned head and concentrated expression to the extended arm and sweeping lines of the bow. The work perfectly illustrates the fascination of Art Deco sculpture with athleticism, speed, idealised anatomy and movement. Ugo Cipriani and the Art Deco period Born in Florence in 1887, Ugo Cipriani grew up in an artistic environment as the son of the sculptor Adolfo Cipriani. He trained at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence and became an accomplished sculptor working in marble, bronze, alabaster and terracotta. His work developed during the flourishing of the Art Deco movement, combining classical anatomical training with the cleaner, more powerful and stylised forms characteristic of the 1920s and 1930s. Among his best-known monumental works is the 1919 bronze monument to Guglielmo Oberdan in Florence. In 1935 Cipriani left Fascist Italy and settled in France, where he continued his career until his death in Paris in 1960. His French period became particularly prolific, and works by him are also associated with the names Menneville and Uriano. Today Cipriani's sculptures are appreciated for their combination of Florentine figurative tradition and the modern dynamism of French Art Deco. The Archer The archer was a particularly appropriate subject for Art Deco artists: it allowed the sculptor to explore balance, tension, anatomy and controlled movement without unnecessary ornament. In this composition, Cipriani reduces the scene almost entirely to the human figure, the bow and a few stylised decorative elements. The strongly horizontal format reinforces the impression of speed and direction, while the carefully modelled face retains an introspective, almost classical character. Examples of Cipriani's Archer model in patinated terracotta have appeared at established European auction houses. Gazette Drouot has catalogued the model as “L’Archer”, signed U. Cipriani, while another documented auction example describes the tense upper torso of the young archer immediately after releasing his arrow. Marks and manufacture The sculpture bears the incised signature: “U. Cipriani” It is also marked: “TERRE CUITE D’ART” “MADE IN FRANCE” and bears the mould/model number: 1687 The hollow underside clearly reveals the natural terracotta body beneath the dark patinated surface, confirming the traditional ceramic construction of the sculpture. The deep brown, bronze and greenish tones of the patina give the work the visual presence of aged bronze while preserving the warmth and texture characteristic of fired terracotta. Condition The sculpture presents beautifully, retaining an attractive and naturally aged patina. There are minor signs of age and use, including light surface wear and small chips/losses to the patinated finish, particularly around the edges of the base, as visible in the photographs. These do not detract from the overall presentation and contribute to the authentic character of this period piece. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the condition description. A powerful Art Deco statement piece With its unusually broad horizontal composition, powerful modelling and dramatic sense of movement, The Archer is one of those sculptures that changes considerably depending on the viewing angle. Seen from the front, it is energetic and almost architectural; from the side, the twisting torso and extended arm reveal the sculptor's command of anatomy; viewed closely, the facial modelling, fingers, drapery and subtly varied bronze-effect patina reveal a surprising degree of detail. An impressive decorative sculpture for an Art Deco interior, private collection, gallery setting or sophisticated contemporary space, and a particularly evocative example of Ugo Cipriani's French-period figurative work.

Estimate:£428.98

To the auction