Pair of Riace Warriors; Italy, first third of the 20th century.

Pair of Riace Warriors; Italy, first third of the 20th century.
Patinated plaster.
Measurements: 139 x 50 x 40 cm (x2).
These two 20th-century plaster sculptures draw inspiration from the Riace Warriors, reinterpreting one of the most iconic models of classical Greek sculpture through a contemporary lens. Both figures feature idealized anatomy and a heroic pose, preserving the characteristic contrapposto, the vigorous torsos, and the expressive serenity that evoke the ideal of physical perfection and spiritual balance characteristic of Hellenic art. However, their execution reflects a thoroughly modern artistic language: the plaster modeling emphasizes the plasticity of the forms through surfaces rich in tactile quality and a volumetric treatment that accentuates the body’s dynamic tension and enhances its expressiveness. The choice of plaster, in addition to referencing the academic tradition of copying and studying classical sculpture, allows for a contemporary reinterpretation of the famous Greek model.
The Riace Warriors, also known as the Riace Bronzes, are among the masterpieces of 5th-century B.C. Greek sculpture. They are two original bronze statues depicting, respectively, a young warrior and an older one, housed in the National Museum of Magna Graecia in Reggio Calabria (Italy). Along with the Poseidon at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens and the Charioteer of Delphi, they are among the few surviving original bronze works of ancient Greek art. Discovered in 1972 off the coast of the town of Riace, in the province of Reggio Calabria, they owe their name to this discovery. Although both share the same stylistic language and extraordinary technical quality, studies have identified significant differences in their execution, which has given rise to various hypotheses regarding their authorship. The most widely accepted interpretation holds that they were created by two different sculptors, likely associated with the same workshop, although it cannot be ruled out that they were created at different times.