Cappe Giuseppe, The Rape of Proserpina in White and Gold Porcelain, 1963, with a vertically developing structure in dynamic spiral motion. In the center, a muscular male figure forcefully lifts a female figure who is struggling upwards, while at the base a third, succumbing figure accentuates the depth and drama of the scene. The pure white of the porcelain elegantly contrasts with the gold details that adorn the drapery, creating an effect of extreme luminosity and luxury. It rests on a circular, molded base, also finished in gold with small punctate reliefs, typical of decorative plastic production from the 18th or 19th century. The work conveys a sense of theatrical energy. Despite the violent theme (the abduction), the execution in porcelain transforms the drama into an object of pure aesthetic beauty, originally intended to adorn the tables or display cabinets of the aristocracy. The pose of the male body and the twist of the woman closely recall Gian Lorenzo Bernini's famous marble masterpiece, The Rape of Proserpina, of which this sculpture appears to be a "chamber" reinterpretation on a reduced scale. It is in good condition, apart from the loss of two phalanges from the little finger of Proserpina's right hand.
The porcelains of the Lombard artist Giuseppe Cappè (Cittiglio-VA 1921 – Lomagna-LC 2008), recognized as among the most prestigious in Italian artistic tradition, are inspired by the great masters of Neapolitan Baroque, Neoclassical, and Renaissance art. The artist's genius is translated into a work that expresses movement, expressiveness, and incredible fineness in the details.
Period: 1963.
Height: 37 cm
Width: 20 cm
Depth: 16 cm
