222 - Leonardo Bistolfi (Casale Monferrato, 1859–1933)

Leonardo Bistolfi (Casale Monferrato, 1859–1933) The Afflicted Woman Marble 110 x 50 x 36 cm Work monogrammed “LB” In 1874, Leonardo Bistolfi received a scholarship from the Municipality of Casale Monferrato that enabled him to study at the Brera Academy, where he took classes with Giosuè Argenti and came into contact with the Scapigliatura movement. In 1880, he moved to Turin to study at the Accademia Albertina, where he took classes with Odoardo Tabacchi. During those same years, he participated in exhibitions organized by the Società Promotrice di Belle Arti, beginning to attract the attention of artists and collectors. He soon established himself as one of Italy’s leading practitioners of funerary sculpture, thanks to his artistic talent and the emotional and symbolic depth his works conveyed. Toward the end of the 19th century, he was commissioned to create portraits of the royal family. He reached the height of his success in the first decade of the 20th century when, following his initial appearances at the early editions of the Venice International Art Exhibition, a solo exhibition was dedicated to him in 1905. In the years following World War I, he created several public monuments. Leonardo Bistolfi (Casale Monferrato 1859–1933) The Afflicted Woman Marble 110 × 50 × 36 cm Monogrammed LB