Horseman
| Artist | Marino Marini (Italian, 1901–1980) |
|---|---|
| Title | Horseman |
| Date | 1947 |
| Medium | Bronze with residues of wax patina |
| Dimensions | Overall: 63 7/16 x 61 x 26 1/2 in. (161.1 x 154.9 x 67.3 cm) Weight: 313.1 lb. (142 kg) |
| Credit Line | Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Henry R. Hope in Memory of James Adams, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 76.137 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A green tinted bronze of a nude figure sitting astride a horse, both simplified into flattened planes. The figure leans forward in a slight slouch with both hands hanging together beside their left leg, as they lean their head back.
Italian sculptor Marino Marini turned to the equestrian motif numerous times throughout his career. The Horseman alludes to the plight of Italian peasants during World War II, when they were forced to flee their homes during bombing raids. The sculpture depicts a nude rider sitting on a horse with his arms hanging limply and his face turned upward with an expression of hopelessness. The horse appears agitated, with ears flattened and neck outstretched. Marini represents the horseman as a tragic figure, helpless in the face of modern warfare. This sculpture is one of an edition of three casts, but each is unique because Marini finished the surfaces of each individually.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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"Horseman | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=76.137