Miracolo

Marino Marini began creating equestrian sculptures in 1936. These underwent a considerable evolution. In the early versions, the man sits firmly on the horse’s back, lord and master of the situation. But WWII drastically changed the artist’s worldview. The sense of unrest increased until the rider was thrown from his horse. These later versions depict the tragedy of human existence.

Equestrian statues have formed an important motif in public monuments since classical antiquity. The horse symbolizes masculinity, power, and combativeness. But this horse is wild and throws its rider to the ground. Thus, it becomes a kind of anti-monument, questioning whether nature ever truly allows itself to be tamed.

Italian sculptor, painter, and graphic artist Marino Marini created his first important sculptures in 1928. His main motifs were the female nude and the horse and rider, but he also made portraits. The rough surfaces are typical of his work, as is the evolution towards abstraction, although the motifs remain recognizable. Important influences include Etruscan and Roman sculpture (for form and surface) and German Gothic sculpture (for the psychology of the figures).