Biography (1882 - 1916)
Header Photo: Synthèse du dynamisme humain (Synthesis of Human Dynamism), 1913.
Umberto Boccioni
Sculpture destroyed.
© Estate of Umberto Boccioni
Umberto Boccioni: Biography I - Biography II - Gallery - Trivia - Smartphones Page
Umberto Boccioni Wares: Boccioni Prints - Boccioni Parastone Sculptures Notes - Boccioni Parastone Sculptures - Advertise here
Umberto Boccioni Links:
Umberto Boccioni sculptures @ ebay.com (direct link to sculptures) - just checked and best price I have seen -
Advertise here -
Umberto Boccioni Books available @ amazon.com
Umberto Boccioni ~ Biography I (1882 - 1916)
Boccioni was born in Reggio di Calabria but left for Rome when he was 18. There the painter Giacomo Balla taught him the neo-impressionist technique of divisionism: the dynamic use of elementary colours.
In 1910, he met the spiritual father of Futurism, the writer Marinetti. He felt drawn to this young, revolutionary movement that advocated a positive belief in permanent innovation. The world was coming to terms with the unique possibilities offered by the discovery of electricity and the invention of photographic material. The artist had to participate in this process and not try to create aesthetic and timeless art in isolation. He had “to express and glorify modern life, which was continuously and unexpectedly being transformed by the triumphs of science”. Boccioni soon developed into a theoretician and leading figure of the futurism movement and wrote numerous manifestos. In 1915, when Italy became embroiled in the First World War, the patriotic Futurists, including Boccioni, joined the army as volunteers. They regarded the Italian involvement first and foremost as the last step towards national unification. Military life did not match the expectations of the highly motivated Boccioni at all. He wrote to a friend:
“I will leave this kind of life with the greatest contempt for everything that is not art. …. Compared to art, all other things represent nothing more than messing around, a rut, patience and memories”.
Five days after writing these words Boccioni died after having fallen from his horse.
UMBERTO BOCCIONI
Unique Forms of Continuity, 1913
Umberto Boccioni ~ Biography II
Umberto Boccioni Italian Futurist painter, sculptor and writer who studied under Balla in Rome. Inspired by Marinetti's Futurist Manifesto (1909), Boccioni issued the Manifesto of Futuristic Painters (1910). He contributed to an exhibition of Futurist art in Paris (1912) and summarized its ideals in his book Pittura, scultura futuriste (1914). Characteristic works are the painting The City Rises (1910) and the sculpture Unique Forms of Continuity in Space (1913) (above).
Source: The Thames and Hudson Dictionary of Art and Artists (World of Art)
Umberto Boccioni ~ Trivia
After 1901 he was strongly affected by Balla's Divisionism; by 1907/08 he had veered in the direction of Symbolism.
In 1910 he became one of the original Futurists, signing the Manifesto and issuing the Manifesto of Futurist Sculpture in 1912.
He wrote a book about Futurism in 1914.
He volunteered for the war in 1915 and died as the result of an accident, after being wounded.
Two of the clauses of the Manifesto were:
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'Universal dynamism must be rendered in painting as a dynamic sensation ... Motion and light destroy the materiality of bodies.'
His Unique Forms of Continuity in Space is in London (Tate).
They call the Futurists madmen, charlatans, clowns, rascals, bluffers, obfuscators, and even worse … --Giovanni Papini, 1913
Umberto Boccioni was perhaps the most versatile and impassioned of the Futurists--the literary, political, and artistic movement that flourished in Italy during the first half of the 20th century, proclaiming a revolutionary, spectacular style of life. His masterwork, Materia, a huge canvas painted during July and August of 1912, depicts the artist's mother seated on the balcony of her apartment at Via Adige, 23, in Milan. Her monumental, sculpted hands sit at the center of the painting, and behind and above her are the rooftops and factory buildings of the Piazza Trento and beyond. The Cubist energy of the composition is enhanced by an open window that reflects rays of light over her, illustrating simultaneous visual impressions of indoors and outdoors.
Further Reading: Boccioni Biography
Umberto Boccioni ~ Gallery
UMBERTO BOCCIONI
Dynamism of a Soccer Player (Detail)
© Estate of Umberto Boccioni
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UMBERTO BOCCIONI
The City Rises, 1910 - Oil On Canvas 78 X 118 (Detail)
© Estate of Umberto Boccioni
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UMBERTO BOCCIONI
Visioni simultanee, 1912
© Estate of Umberto Boccioni / Wuppertal, Von Der Heydt Museum
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UMBERTO BOCCIONI
Unique Form of Continuity in Space, 1913 (Detail)
© Estate of Umberto Boccioni / Tate
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UMBERTO BOCCIONI
Elasticity, 1912, Oil on canvas, 39 3/8 x 39 3/8 in. (Detail)
© Estate of Umberto Boccioni
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UMBERTO BOCCIONI
Charge of the Lancers, 1915, Tempera and collage on pasteboard
32 x 50 cm (Detail)
© Estate of Umberto Boccioni / Ricardo and Magda Jucker Collection, Milan
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UMBERTO BOCCIONI
States of Mind: The Farewells, 1911, Oil on canvas, 70.5 x 96.2 cm (Detail)
© Estate of Umberto Boccioni / Museum of Modern Art, New York
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UMBERTO BOCCIONI
States of Mind: Those who go, 1911, Oil on canvas, 70.8 x 95.9 cm (Detail)
© Estate of Umberto Boccioni / Museum of Modern Art, New York
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UMBERTO BOCCIONI
States of Mind: Those who stay, 1911, Oil on canvas, 70.8 x 95.9 cm (Detail)
© Estate of Umberto Boccioni / Museum of Modern Art, New York
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Umberto Boccioni ~ Parastone Sculptures Notes
First things first: there are no better artist sculptures/figures than these Parastone figures anywhere. The attention to detail & the 3d effect breathes new life in the work of the masters.
Parastone was originally part of the famous Borzo art dealership which was founded in 1880 and it primarily specialised in restoring religious art. When, alongside the latter activity, an increasing number of sculptures were produced after own designs, it was decided – in 1963 – to found Parastone as an independent company.
For over 50 years now, Parastone has successfully designed decorative sculptures, partly of timeless classic beauty, partly aligned with current trends. The museum images entitled Mouseion constitute an important part of the collection. Alongside exact copies of important works of art, Mouseion also consists of three-dimensional interpretations of paintings and sketches by many artists ranging from Jheronimus Bosch to Salvador Dali.
Parastone is located in ’s-Hertogenbosch, a historic city in the Netherlands and the birthplace of famous Medieval painter Jheronimus Bosch.
Wow, the works coming from where Bosch was from. Where Bosch breathed the same air - knew the same countryside.
Bosch and Parastone: what a magical combination.
Umberto Boccioni ~ Parastone Sculptures
UMBERTO BOCCIONI
Futuristic Man
Sculpture
Superb. Sculpture derived from Unique forms of continuity in space (Forme uniche della continuita nello spazio) (1913)
Medium: Collectible quality resin with hand-painted color details, matte and glossy finish
Dimensions: 8 in. x 6 in. x 1 in.
Condition: New in box
Date of Creation: 1990-Now
Origin: Europe
Manufactured by: Parastone Mouseion
Included: Full color card with image of original artwork. Description card about artist and artwork. Both cards are in four languages.
Beautifully rendered and constructed of fine collectible quality resin.
In 1912, Boccioni wrote his Manifesto technico della scultura futuristica. He advocated experimenting with the simultaneous use of different materials in dynamic forms, with a focus on the "abstract reconstruction and not the figurative, form-determining meaning of planes and volumes". The figure with the telling title Unique forms of continuity in space (Forme uniche della continuita nello spazio) (1913) reflects his approach to life, as a Futurist, which was lively, dynamic and future-oriented.
As of 2014, I found that amazon now stock many of the Boccioni Parastone sculptures. As it is impossible to compete with their buying power you will find the sculptures far cheaper than I can do. I have put links to both their US and UK sites below which will take you to their Boccioni sculpture pages.
If I can ever compete with their prices then I will stock them again as I do love these sculptures and they deserve to be owned by as many people as possible. I also miss those conversations with fellow Boccioni/Parastone admirers who are adding a sculpture or starting a collection. For now it's enough to present them as beautiful as I possibly can.
Try:
amazon.com (us)
Umberto Boccioni ~ Prints
Umberto Boccioni original exhibition posters @ ebay.com (direct link to exhibition posters) - they do come onto the market from time to time
Umberto Boccioni ~ Links
Umberto Boccioni: Biography I - Biography II - Gallery - Trivia - Smartphones Page
Umberto Boccioni Wares: Boccioni Prints - Boccioni Parastone Sculptures Notes - Boccioni Parastone Sculptures
Umberto Boccioni Links:
Umberto Boccioni sculptures @ ebay.com (direct link to sculptures) - just checked and best price I have seen -
Advertise here -
Umberto Boccioni Books available @ amazon.com
