UMBERTO BELLOTTO (1882-1940)

The son of a Venetian blacksmith, Bellotto inherited the family business when he was only 19 years old and immediately embarked on a journey of experimentation with ironwork. He gained recognition at the Venice Biennale of 1914 where he exhibited a collection of eccentric works, combining iron with an array of antithetical materials such as leather, ceramic and glass. The present gate, which was presented at the Venice Biennale of 1924, links ancient Venetian traditions with the modern early 20th century taste. It shows off Bellotto’s love of myth and allegory, his devotion to the traditional Venetian theme of the sea and is an exceptional example of his remarkable skill in transforming a hardened material like iron into a fluid and dynamic work of art.