The Miner — Enrico Butti

The Miner


Enrico Butti (1847 - 1932)

Enrico Butti (1847-1932): Italian sculptor renowned for funerary monuments & commemorative works. Professor at Brera Academy, Milan. Explore his neoclassical style and significant contributions to 19th/20th century Italian sculpture.

Galleria d'Arte Moderna (Milan, Italy)

Discover Italian & European masterpieces from the 18th-20th centuries at Milan's Galleria d'Arte Moderna, housed in the stunning Villa Reale! See works by Van Gogh, Picasso, Hayez & more.

This sculpture was commissioned by Giovanni Azzarini for the funeral monument of his father, a wealthy businessman who made his fortune in Montevideo (Uruguay). The figure of a miner who, in a moment of abandon, leans his weight on a wheelbarrow is defined by a solid monumental structure and a careful anatomical study, particularly in the bust and shoulders, which are distorted with fatigue. Despite the tense plasticity of the piece, the bronze offers many opportunities for the interplay of light and shadow. Starting from the 1890s,