Artwork by Antoniucci Volti,  Nu féminin assis “Camelia”

Antoniucci Volti
Nu féminin assis “Camelia”

dark blue patinated bronze
signed, numbered 3/6 and inscribed ‘Susse Fondeur Paris’ on the back of the right leg
19 x 21 x 18 ins ( 48.3 x 53.3 x 45.7 cms ) ( overall )

Auction Estimate: $20,000.00$15,000.00 - $20,000.00

Price Realized $26,400.00
Sale date: June 8th 2023

Provenance:
Private Collection, Toronto
Antoniucci Volti, from his real name Voltigero, was a French sculptor, draughtsman and engraver. The son of a stonemason, he pursued his studies in Nice before moving to Paris and entering the studio of Jean Boucher at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts. His works follow in the footsteps of other notable sculptors, such as Auguste Rodin, Antoine Bourdelle and Aristide Maillol.

Not unlike Maillol, Volti’s oeuvre celebrated the classic beauty of female bodies, from their voluptuous curves to their tender expressions. Here is depicted a woman with a curly head of hair leaning against her folded arms. She is curled up in repose and appears serene. While her right foot is solidly planted on the ground, her left one instead protrudes outward, thus blurring the line between the work of art and the viewer’s space.

Volti successfully transcribed the female figure in bronze while injecting a measure of calm sensuality into his sculptural works, at once both innovative and mesmerizing. His figurative sculptures now feature in various collections worldwide, including the Musée National d’Art Moderne in Paris and the Fondation Musée Volti in Villefranche-sur-Mer.

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Antoniucci Volti
(1915 - 1989)

Antoniucci Volti, from his real name Voltigero, was a French sculptor, draughtsman and engraver. The son of a stonemason, he pursued his studies in Nice before moving to Paris and entering the studio of Jean Boucher at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts. His works follow in the footsteps of other notable sculptors, such as Auguste Rodin, Antoine Bourdelle and Aristide Maillol.

While serving in the Second World War, Volti was captured and held as a prisoner of war in Bavaria. His health suffered, and upon his release, he discovered that a bomb had destroyed his studio and work. His past practice had been completely erased, and after that, he considered himself “self-taught”. By abandoning the teachings of his masters, Volti’s sculptures became more personal, and he began working in his signature style. It was also around this time that he began signing his work “Volti”.

Inspiration for Volti’s figures was rooted in his Mediterranean surroundings. He was able to move seamlessly between small format and monumental scale. His figurative sculptures now feature in various collections worldwide, including the Musée National d’Art Moderne in Paris and the Fondation Musée Volti in Villefranche-sur-Mer.