Barzaghi’s Goddess of Flowers – Michelangelo Buonarroti is back

The sculpture of the day that I propose to you today is the Goddess of Flowers sculpted by Francesco Barzaghipresented for the first time to the public in 1878 at the Brera Academy.

From its first appearance this sensual work did not go unnoticed. It was proposed a few years later, in 1881, to theMilan National Exhibition and soon bought by the municipality for the high price of 9,500 lire at the time.

“This statue is all flattery, stands out from the rose bush with a soft charm, reminds of adolescence, she is agile in movement, well turned in limbs and made with a brush with the wide hips of the Goddess of fertility who cheers spring, has a smile on her lips and raises a garland not to keep her from desire, but to make her want more.“ This is how an anonymous journalist wrote in the press of the time.

Given so much praise, there was no shortage of harsh criticism of Barzaghi’s sculpture such as the one made by the Catholic Observer “The life that transpires from the marble calls you to the Goddess of the flowers by Francesco Barzaghi: you contemplate her and she fascinates you, but you ask her for a thought, and she doesn’t answer you, it does not elevate you, it does not ennoble you. Oh, let’s leave the Goddess of flowers! The flowers wither, dry up and the goddess who fascinated you leave your heart empty, the weakened soul.

The work is done one of the last sculptures by the Milanese artist from the long series of nude female figures which began early in his career with Phryne of 1863.

Barzaghi portrays a young woman without clothes in natural dimensions. while raising her arms above her head with flowers in hand.

From the pedestal they wrap around her legs until they reach her pubis and cover it with spring flowers.

A few years later, the sculptor Vincenzo Vela would be inspired by this sensual and poetic composition to shape his Flora.

If you want to admire this natural sculpture, you just have to go to Milan Modern Art Gallery.

For the moment, your Michelangelo Buonarroti greets you, giving you an appointment for the next publications and on social networks.

The sculpture of the day that I propose to you today is the Goddess of Flowers sculpted by Francesco Barzaghifirst presented to the public in 1878 at the Brera Academy.

From its first appearance, this sensual work did not go unnoticed. It was exhibited a few years later, in 1881, at the Milan National Exhibition and quickly acquired by the municipality for the high price of 9,500 lire at the time.

“This statue is quite a compliment, it stands out from the rose bush with a soft charm, it recalls adolescence, it is agile in its movement, well formed in its limbs and touched by the wide hips of the Goddess of fertility that cheers spring, has in the lips the smile and raises a garland not to remove her from desire, but to make her want more. This is how an anonymous journalist wrote in the press of the time.

Faced with so much praise, there was no shortage of harsh criticism of Barzaghi’s sculpture, such as the one moved by the catholic observer “The life that shines through the marble calls you to the Goddess of the flowers by Francesco Barzaghi: you contemplate her and she fascinates you, but you ask her for a thought, and she doesn’t answer you, doesn’t elevate you, doesn’t ennoble you. Oh, let’s leave the Goddess of flowers! The flowers wither, dry up and the goddess who fascinated you leaves your heart empty, your soul weakened.

The work is, in fact, one of the last sculptures by the Milanese artist in the long series of nude female figures that he began at the beginning of his career with Friné in 1863.

Barzaghi portrays a life-size nude young woman raising her arms and holding flowers.

From their pedestal they wrap their legs up to their pubis and cover it with spring flowers.

A few years later, the sculptor Vincenzo Vela would be inspired by this sensual and poetic composition to shape his Flora.

If you want to admire this sculpture from life, all you have to do is go to the Galleria di Arte Moderna in Milan.

For the moment, your Michelangelo Buonarroti greets you, giving you an appointment for the next publications and on social networks.

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published by Michelangelo Buonarroti

Who does not know Miguel Ángel Buonarroti? Sculptor, painter, architect and refined poet. But, who is his alter ego that gives him a voice on the michelangelobuonarrotietornato.com blog and on the connected social networks? Antonietta Bandelloni, Tuscan art blogger and writer with a passion for art. For more than ten years she has dedicated herself to the in-depth study of the works and the tormented existence of Michelangelo Buonarroti. To contact Antonietta Bandelloni for collaborations, invitations, sponsorships or anything else, send an email directly to antoniettabandelloni@gmail.com ITA: Who doesn’t know Michelangelo Buonarroti? Sculptor, painter, architect and refined poet. But, who is his alter ego that gives him a voice on the michelangelobuonarrotietornato.com blog and on the connected social networks? Antonietta Bandelloni, Tuscan art blogger and writer with a passion for art. For more than ten years she has dedicated herself to the in-depth study of the works and the tormented existence of Michelangelo Buonarroti. To contact Antonietta Bandelloni for collaborations, invitations, sponsorships or others, send an email directly to antoniettabandelloni@gmail.com See all articles by Michelangelo Buonarroti