THE FLORENTINE RENAISSANCE COMES TO MOSCOW
(April 2013)
Fonderia Artistica Ferdinando Marinelli exhibits four works at DOMEXPO 2013 in Moscow.
The ‘Porcellino’ by Tacca and ‘The Rape of the Sabines’ by Giambologna are on view from April 11 to 14.
Much of Florentine genius is packed into a small stand in Moscow at the DOMEXPO 2013 exhibtion
dedicated to the real estate market.
Fonderia Marinelli together with Sabini Associates Real Estate is exhibiting four bronze statues among which are two of Renaissance Florence’s most representative works ; the ‘Porcellino’ by Tacca and ‘The Rape of the Sabines’ by Giambologna. In addition, there are two works by contemporary artists ; ‘Pomona’ by Gabbrielli and ‘Tritone’ by Benvenuti.
Russian investors will find a precious ‘treasure chest’ of what is available in Tuscany when they visit our stand which will also include information regarding magnificent villas and historic residences in breathtaking landscape settings. They will therefore be enticed by the possibility of purchasing a beautiful property. This is also a novel way to view Italian art and some will undoubtedly take the opportunity to acquire unique works to decorate villas, gardens and parks.
The Porcellino Fountain was made by Fonderia Marinelli on request of the City of Florence who had commissioned a true copy of the famous bronze by Pietro Tacca to replace the 1625 original which is now preserved in the Museo Bardini in Florence. Pietro Tacca was a pupil of Giambologna whose most famous work, ‘The Rape of the Sabines’ was as well replicated by the Fonderia. It is over 4 meters high and is identical to the original as it was cast directly from the authentic marble sculpture. The two other works on view at DOMEXPO 2013 are ‘La Pomona’ by Donatello Gabbrielli (1884-1955) and ‘Il Tritone’ by Sergio Benvenuti.
The Foundry takes its name from its founder, Ferdinando Marinelli, Sr., grandfather of the current owner, Ferdinando Marinelli. After three generations and one hundred years of activity, the lost-wax casting technique is still utilized as it was in 1500 Florence. This antique method was known to the Greeks, Etruscans and Romans and was subsequently rediscovered and improved by such Renaissance masters as Donatello, Cellini and Giambologna. To this day, our skilled craftsmen, working side by side with artists, produce (‘far nascere’) bronze pieces of extraordinary beauty. This process, which can take up to six months time, is only possible thanks to their supreme technical ability and manuality.
For all these reasons, owning a Marinelli bronze has become a status symbol, a way to invest in art and Italian artisanship of the very highest level.
In addition to the posthumous first edition originals of famous masterpieces (the Foundry has a rich collection of plaster casts from original works), and major contracts for governments (Uruguay, Macedonia, Vatican City and the Russian Federation), Fonderia Artistica Ferdinando Marinelli owes its fame to projects that have been entrusted to it by private individuals for the construction of fountains and decorations of buildings, stadiums, houses, villas and gardens around the world.
In Russia, the Foundry is not only famous among collectors and among investors who bought property in Italy: in 1998, the artists and craftsmen of Fonderia Marinelli contributed to the restructuring of the Great Kremlin Palace, restoring and creating works and decorations the halls of St. Alexander and St. Andrea.
The statues will be on display from April11 to 14 at stand E 3.1
See also: Kremlin’s Halls restoration