1980s Mission by Franco Vianello - Lost-Wax Bronze Bull Sculpture on Wood Base

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Mission is a striking lost-wax bronze sculpture by Italian-American sculptor Franco Vianello (1937–2015). Captured in mid-stride with its head lowered … Read more Mission is a striking lost-wax bronze sculpture by Italian-American sculptor Franco Vianello (1937–2015). Captured in mid-stride with its head lowered and body moving purposefully forward, the bull conveys determination, strength, and quiet resolve.

Vianello’s expressive modeling is especially evident in the richly textured surface of the bronze. Rather than presenting an idealized animal, he emphasizes the bull’s muscular form and rugged character, giving the piece a sense of movement and individuality from every angle.

The bronze is presented on a warm, polished wood base, creating a handsome contrast with the sculpture’s dark, nuanced patina. Its compact scale makes Mission particularly well suited for a desk, library, console, bookcase, or executive office.

Franco Vianello was trained in Venice, Italy, and apprenticed under renowned Murano artist Napoleone Martinuzzi before coming to the United States in 1959. He later established a lost-wax foundry in Berkeley, California, and devoted his career to the centuries-old lost-wax bronze casting tradition. His body of work encompasses Western subjects, wildlife, horses, figurative works, and monumental public sculpture. See less