McTear's
Lot 96
* ENZO PLAZZOTTA (ITALIAN 1921 - 1981), SPIRIT OF FREEDOM bronze sculpture with rich brown patina, stamped with the Plazzotta seal and numbered 34 inscribed title to plaque, on marble base 33cm high Provenance: Enzo Plazzotta Catalogue Raisonne No 329 illustrated page 171.Note: Enzo Plazzotta was born in Mestre, near Venice, in 1921 and spent his student days in Milan studying sculptural drawing and modelling under Giocomo Manzu at the Academia di Brera, and architecture at the Politecnicao. He decided to specialise in sculpture, but his studies were interrupted by World War ll. Plazzotta became a member of the Italian Resistance Movement and fought in the Ossola region as a partisan. He was captured as a result of a secret political meeting held in Milan and spent nearly a year in solitary confinement. While being transferred to a German prisoner of war camp, however, he managed to escape and rejoin the partisans. Plazzotta was engaged in guerrilla activities and in conjunction with the British Special Forces was on the organising end of a clandestine escape route for Jews and escaped Allied prisoners of war en route from Italy to Switzerland. Through these contacts with British Intelligence he was involved in the repatriation of Ferruccio Parri, the leader of the Italian Resistance, from Switzerland to Italy. Parri later became Italy's first prime minister after the war ended. Plazzotta's wartime record won him the Silver Medal for Military Valour. After the war, Plazzotta resumed his studies in Milan, and in 1947 received his first commission, appropriately enough from the Italian Committee of Liberation. This was to be their tribute to their successful wartime collaboration with the British Special Forces. The bronze sculpture was entitled Spirit of Rebellion and depicted the boy David with the head of Goliath. Plazzotta himself was chosen to make the presentation to the Special Forces Club headquarters in London, and the bronze still has a place of honour there today. This first visit to London played a major part in shaping Plazzotta's career, for he quickly decided to make London his permanent place of residence. From his first studio in London he received several portrait commissions and, in 1949, held his first exhibition at the former Brook Street Gallery, to be followed by many others. "Spirit of Freedom" was also commissioned by The Special Forces Club (London) as confirmed in the Catalogue Raisonne. One of his first public commissions was a monument to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Lewes, and after this time he began to explore the themes for which he has become well known, specialising in studies of dance, the horse and the female form – all of which exude vitality and movement. His style, based on the classical lines of the Renaissance, reflects perfectly his own admiration for such great masters as Michelangelo and Rodin. He lived in Chelsea and worked from the studio formerly owned by the late Sir Charles Wheeler. Major public sculptures by Enzo Plazzotta include: Camargue Horses, on the Waterside Terrace at The Barbican Centre, London; The Cruxifixion, in the College Gardens of Westminster Abbey; Homage to Leonardo. Belgrave Square, London; Jeté, on the corner of 46 -57 Millbank, Westminster, London; The Hand of Christ, Dinand Library at the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA; The Helmet, Lewes Priory; Two Brothers, Boys Town, Nebraska, USA; Young Dancer, Royal Opera House, Broad Street, London. The estate of Enzo Plazzotta is handled by Chris Beetles Gallery (London) and their website at the time of writing shows "Spirit of Freedom" priced at £2750.
