Rider (Il Cavaliere) 1948 by Marino Marini

One of Italy’s most celebrated sculptors of the 20th Century who primarily produced figurative bronze sculptures, but also paintings, drawings and etchings.

He kept revisiting the equestrian theme with aspects of modernism in particular exaggerated and elongated forms.

The evolution of the horse and rider reflected his interpretation of classical themes in light of modern concerns.

In 1936 both figures were poised, formal and calm, and the following year the horse rears and the rider gestures. By the late 40’s the horse is immobile with neck extended, mouth open and ears pinned back...

The Angel of the City - c1948-1950

Later the rider becomes increasingly oblivious of his mount and eventually he was to topple from his horse as it fell to the ground in an apocalyptic image of lost control, paralleling Marini‘s feelings of despair and uncertainty about the future of the world.

The image on the illy Art Collection cup in my series of paintings is taken I believe from a colour lithographic from 1955, and used as part of the illy Art Collection in 1994.

I wonder if Marini himself would have chosen that image for the coffee cup if he’d been around in 1994 (Marino Marini 1901-1980)?

I enjoyed painting it and saw just this week on Artsy For Sale 8 of 50 published prints of the image, expected to sell for up $1,500.

ROSE illy Art Collection Marino Marini 1994