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Gentiluomo a cavallo is a sculpture by Marino Marini created in 1937. The work depicts a gentleman mounted on horseback, a subject that would occupy the artist throughout his career.
Marini had devoted himself primarily to sculpture from 1922 onward, drawing inspiration from Etruscan art and from his mentor Arturo Martini. By 1937, when this work was executed, Marini was teaching at the Scuola d’Arte di Villa Reale in Monza, near Milan—a position he had held since 1929. During this period, he maintained close ties with the European avant-garde, having travelled frequently to Paris and, from 1936, establishing himself in Ticino, Switzerland, where he developed friendships with Alberto Giacometti and other modernist sculptors.
About Marino Marini
Marino Marini (1901–1980) was an Italian sculptor and educator who studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence beginning in 1917. Though he continued painting throughout his life, sculpture became his primary medium from the early 1920s. His work was deeply influenced by Etruscan sculpture and by Martini’s innovations. In 1940, Marini joined the faculty of the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan, where he would train a generation of sculptors.
Details
- Creator: Marino Marini
- Year: 1937
- Subject: Equestrian figure
- Movement: Modern Italian sculpture
Frequently asked questions
Who was Marino Marini?
Marino Marini (1901–1980) was an Italian sculptor and educator. He studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence and devoted himself primarily to sculpture from 1922, influenced by Etruscan art and Arturo Martini’s work. He taught at the Scuola d’Arte di Villa Reale in Monza from 1929 to 1940, then at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan.
What artistic circles did Marini move in?
During the 1930s, Marini travelled frequently to Paris, where he associated with Massimo Campigli, Giorgio de Chirico, Alberto Magnelli, and others. From 1936, based in Ticino, Switzerland, he became friends with Alberto Giacometti, Germaine Richier, and Fritz Wotruba, engaging with the broader modernist movement.
When did Marini create this work?
This sculpture was created in 1937, a period when Marini was at the Scuola d’Arte di Villa Reale in Monza and actively engaged with European modernist circles.
