Seated Woman by Antoniucci Volti

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.