artist
Trained at the Brera Academy, Pina quickly stood out for his skill and classical grounding. Early in his career he moved to Paris, then the center of the art world, and became part of the lively sculptural community around Auguste Rodin and Antoine Bourdelle. Their influence can be felt in his work: expressive, muscular modeling and emotional presence, but always balanced by a strong sense of form and discipline. Pina showed regularly at the major Paris salons and worked closely with respected foundries to cast his bronzes, which range from portrait busts to dynamic figurative compositions. His sculptures have a thoughtful intensity—rooted in academic tradition yet responsive to modern ideas—and he remains appreciated for blending Italian training with the creative energy of early-20th-century Paris.
provenance
Sotheby's London March 1992
Acquired from the above by The Sheldon and Irma Gilgore Collection of Italian Art, Naples Florida until 2024
The Sheldon G. Gilgore Trust 2024-2025
exhibitions
Art Institute of Chicago, Chiseled with a Brush, Italian Sculpture, 1860-1925, May-Aug, 1994, Denver Art Museum, Oct 1994-Jan 1995
literature
Wardropper, Ian, Chiseled With a Brush: Italian Sculpture 1860-1925 from the Gilgore Collections, University of Washington Press 1994, pp 126-27.
