Italic Hero on Horseback, Terracotta sculpture, Giorgio Rossi (1894–1981)

Italic Hero on Horseback, terracotta sculpture, Giorgio Rossi (1894–1981)

Terracotta, hand-modeled by the artist

Dimensions: Height 37 cm

Unique piece

Documented in the catalogue Le voci di dentro. La scultura di Giorgio Rossi, Ed. Polistampa

Exhibited in several monographic exhibitions dedicated to the artist

This terracotta sculpture by Giorgio Rossi represents an Italic hero on a rearing horse, holding a laurel wreath — a classical symbol of civic virtue and triumph. The nude male figure, youthful and athletic, embodies strength and solemnity, and echoes the heroic iconography promoted during the interwar period in Italy. His pose conveys both energy and elevation, suspended between physical action and symbolic gesture.

The warm, vibrant tone of the terracotta evokes a sense of age and timelessness. The surface suggests a continuity with ancient sculpture, recalling the image of an Etruscan kouros or a Roman warrior, suspended between classical archetype and modern stylization.

The style blends archaic rhythm with modern simplification, in what could be described as Etruscan Art Deco. This synthesis of classical references and sculptural clarity is characteristic of Rossi’s mature language: austere, expressive, and deeply rooted in Tuscany’s sculptural tradition.

The work comes directly from the artist’s estate and remained preserved in his family collection.

Exhibitions:

This work belongs to the period in which Rossi participated in prestigious national exhibitions, such as the Venice Biennale (1930, 1936), where his works were praised for their technical quality and ability to interpret modernity without betraying tradition.

Artist Biography:

Giorgio Rossi (1894–1981) was a Tuscan sculptor of great importance, capable of interpreting realism and figurative tradition with a modern sensibility. Born in Florence, he trained at the Academy of Fine Arts under the guidance of Antonio Bortone. His works, often made of terracotta and alabaster, are distinguished by a formal synthesis that celebrates the expressive power of the subject through a modern and refined language.

He participated in prestigious exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale (1930, 1936), receiving praise for the technical quality and originality of his works. For over thirty years he taught at the Artistic and Industrial School of Volterra, influencing generations of artists and contributing to the artistic renewal of Tuscany. Rossi’s works, often from the family legacy, testify to his contribution to twentieth-century Italian sculpture, with a vision that combines tradition and innovation, Etruscan roots and modern sensibility.