Adolfo Wildt

Place: Milan

Born: 1868

Death: 1931

Biography:

Adolfo Wildt was an Italian sculptor born in Milan in 1868. He died in Milan in 1931. Wildt is mostly known for his marble sculptures, which blend simplicity and sophistication, and paved the way for numerous modernist sculptors.

Early Life and Education

Wildt was born in Milan to a Swiss family who had settled in Lombardy. He left school at age nine to work as a hairdresser and then as a goldsmith. At eleven he began an apprenticeship in the workshop of Giuseppe Grandi, who introduced him to the craft of sculpting marble. His technical ability made him popular within art circles by the age of eighteen.

Career and Notable Works

In 1888 he started to work as an assistant for sculptor Federico Villa. Wildt's interest in art eventually led him to reprise his education, and he enrolled in the Brera Academy of Fine Arts. In 1893 he exhibited his first work, a portrait of his wife, at the Permanent Society for Fine Arts in Milan. The piece was immediately purchased by the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna in Rome. Wildt's sculptures are present in the Cimitero Monumentale di Milano, a cemetery known for the abundance of artistic tombs and monuments, and for the presence of contemporary and classical Italian sculptures as well as Greek temples, elaborate obelisks, and other original works such as a scaled-down version of the Trajan's Column. Many of the tombs belong to noted industrialist dynasties, and were designed by artists such as Adolfo Wildt, Giò Ponti, Arturo Martini, Agenore Fabbri, Lucio Fontana, Medardo Rosso, Giacomo Manzù, Floriano Bodini, and Giò Pomodoro.

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Wildt's work can be found in various museums and galleries, including the Adolfo Wildt page on Wikioo.org, which features a collection of his sculptures and provides information about his life and career. Notable works by Adolfo Wildt include Mi dolgon fanciullo..., a drawing that showcases his skill in capturing the human form. This piece is part of the Biennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze collection. In conclusion, Adolfo Wildt was a talented Italian sculptor who left a lasting impact on the art world. His marble sculptures continue to inspire artists and collectors, and his legacy can be seen in the many museums and galleries that feature his work.