A bas-relief depicting Ancient Architecture adorns the Torre Locatelli in Milan’s Piazza della Repubblica. Created by sculptor Giuseppe Maretto in 1939, this work forms part of the tower’s monumental architectural programme, designed by architect Mario Bacciocchi and completed between 1936 and 1939.
The relief is located on the façade facing Via Vittor Pisani, enriching the tower’s marble-clad base. It reflects Maretto’s engagement with sculptural decoration during the Rationalist period, when public buildings were embellished with figural and allegorical forms integrated into their architectural language.
About Giuseppe Maretto
Giuseppe Maretto (1908–1984) was a Milan-based sculptor, painter, enameller and medallist active in the first half of the twentieth century. He exhibited at the Fifth Triennale of Milan in 1933 and created monumental sculptures and fountains throughout the city, establishing himself as a significant figure in interwar Italian sculpture.
Details
- Creator: Giuseppe Maretto
- Year: 1939
- Location: Torre Locatelli, Piazza della Repubblica, Milan
- Building architect: Mario Bacciocchi
- Material and technique: Bas-relief sculpture
- Building completion date: 1936–1939
Frequently asked questions
Who created this relief?
Giuseppe Maretto, a Milan-based sculptor and painter, created the relief in 1939. Maretto was active in the first half of the twentieth century and worked across multiple sculptural and decorative disciplines.
Where is the Torre Locatelli?
The Torre Locatelli stands at Piazza della Repubblica 27, at the corner with Via Vittor Pisani in Milan. The building reaches 67 metres in height across 17 floors.
What is the subject of the relief?
The bas-relief depicts Ancient Architecture, functioning as decorative sculptural embellishment on the tower’s marble-clad base, part of the building’s monumental architectural vocabulary designed between 1936 and 1939.
