Thursday, November 2, 2017

The Genius of Victory

Il Genio della Vittoria (The Genius of Victory) by Urbano Lucchesi, Piazza XX Settembre, Lucca

Il Genio della Vittoria (The Genius of Victory) by Urbano Lucchesi, 1897
Piazza XX Settembre
Lucca, October 2017

“The last civic monument by Urbano Lucchesi dedicated to the Fallen in the Battles for the Fatherland and in particular to the date of the capture of Rome because, to use the words of Antonio Mordini, «history has no finer date than 20 September». The convincing allegory of the Winged Genius, rising above the imposing monument to the Fallen in the Battles for the Fatherland in piazza XX Settembre in Lucca, was particularly appreciated for its ideological and political value: «that figure which from the top of the grotesque pyramid, surmounted with live ivy, extends its right arm in the gesture of offering a votive crown to be placed on the altar, which recalls the memorable event which sealed the Unity of Italy in the Eternal City and consecrated the triumph of freedom over theocratic and imperial despotism, is felt with vigour and, if the harshness of some of its parts is removed, can without doubt be considered one of the best sculptures of our artist.” (Percorso tra i monumenti risorgimentali a Lucca, Città di Lucca)

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