Augusto Conti, Nude Woman Gust of Wind, 1960s, Bronze

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Description

Measurements:
height: 25 cm; width: 11.5 cm; depth: 9 cm; weight: 1.439 kg

item :
a magnificent antique patinated bronze … Read more Measurements:
height: 25 cm; width: 11.5 cm; depth: 9 cm; weight: 1.439 kg

item :
a magnificent antique patinated bronze sculpture, created in the second half of the 20th century by the renowned italian sculptor augusto conti. The work, measuring 25 cm high, 11.5 cm wide, and 9 cm deep, develops the iconographic theme of the "gust of wind" with extraordinary dynamic freshness. The figure depicts a young woman standing on high heels, surprised by a sudden, violent gust of air that abruptly lifts her dress forward, exposing her half-naked body. The modeling does not yield to facile, polished academicism, but adopts a vibrant, expressionist style: the metal surface deliberately preserves the plasticity of freehand application and the rapid strokes of the stick impressed on the original wax or clay. This technical expedient creates a wonderful interplay of light and shade that enhances the tension of the muscles and the volumetric lightness of the drapery. The lost-wax casting process presents a warm, burnished patina with intense golden reflections intrinsic to the metal. The wavy, irregular base, cast in a single block with the body, bears the artist's engraved signature "a. Conti," inscribed with a round tip before being cast in the foundry, certifying the direct authorship and absolute authenticity of the piece.

useful information for valuing this item:
in the art gallery and specialized auction circuit, augusto conti's finished and numbered bronzes maintain stable prices, with hammer prices for small expressionistic sketches or sacred subjects ranging from €250 to €500 for smaller sculptures, up to €800-1,500 for larger ones, depending on the structural complexity of the sculpture in question. Auction prices for larger sculptures featuring multiple subjects and particularly complex workmanship reach €2,000-3,000.
the economic positioning of this sculpture, despite its not particularly large dimensions, is positively influenced by the excellent artistic quality of the sketch and the general appreciation of 20th-century italian female nudes in bronze on the antiques market. Tabletop sculptures of similar iconography and dimensions, with similar artistic workmanship, range in price from €400 to €600. Our sculpture, due to its exceptional compositional dynamism, its perfect state of preservation, free from oxidation or subsequent restoration, and the clarity of the signature at the base, sits authoritatively at the top of the indicated price range.

information on the artist and/or manufacturer:
augusto conti was a figure of solid technical prowess in the panorama of italian sculpture in the second half of the twentieth century. Distinguished for his skill in the use of lost-wax casting, the artist collaborated regularly with historic industrial and artistic centers of excellence, including the renowned venturi foundry in bologna. Given the artist's renowned and ongoing professional association with this important foundry, it is highly likely that this sculpture was also cast and finished in the same bolognese workshop. This synergy allowed for the translation into bronze of remarkably complex and richly detailed plastic models. His production oscillates with a fine balance between statuary with religious themes and secular sketches dedicated to the study of the human figure in motion. Aligning himself with the great twentieth-century influence of masters such as pericle fazzini, francesco messina, and michele vedani, conti has successfully stripped sculpture of rigid volumetric constraints, capturing the instability of everyday actions and the reaction of bodies to atmospheric agents. Today, his works, documented in modern art catalogs and local group exhibitions, are included in prestigious private collections in italy and europe dedicated to twentieth-century bronze. This piece has an attribution mark,
i am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
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