Lot 318 D

"The sculptural idea must be inspired not merely by formal prejudices but solely by love. I not only say that to you, I also say it to myself." (Giacomo Manzù, speech to the students of the Salzburg summer academy, presumably 1957. Cited in John Rewald, Giacomo Manzù, Salzburg 1966, pp. 68 f.)
The present bronze sculpture comes from a series of studies on the theme of motherhood, which Giacomo Manzù created over the course of 1956. In terms of their motifs, his sensitive portraits occupy a place in the midst of the broad range between sacral pictorial subjects and graceful images of nudes. At that point in time Manzù was almost 50 years old and a recognised artist: he had an entire room, which featured a presentation of his large bronzes of cardinals, devoted to him at the Biennale di Venezia. He himself was intensely occupied with preliminary work for the design of the doors of the Salzburg Cathedral, which would be solemnly consecrated two years later.