38. Pegasus and Apollo [1973]

A representative of the realistic art movement, Ion Irimescu definitely rejects any type of abstraction in his work. He mainly accomplishes a pedestal sculpture, suitable for interior spaces, and takes over characteristics from his teacher, Dimitrie Paciurea, as well as from sculptor Oscar Han, whose studio he often visits. Convinced that the secret of sculpture lies in uninterrupted drawing exercises, he dedicates a broad section of his creation to pencil studies of what later would become sculptural material. What is remarkable in his work is his preference towards the human figure. Iirmescu excels in accomplishing a broad series of portraits and self-portraits, which he presents in exhibitions both nationally and internationally, such as the Venice Biennale. The first period of his creation matches his desire to illustrate mythological themes and legends, yet he would resume these motifs at a later date as well, as we can also notice in the present work. If his youth corresponded to a searching stage, in 1973, as he was completing the work for "Pegasus and Apollo", he already had the answers. With the ability of a virtuoso, he joins together two important characters of ancient mythology. Pegasus, the divine winged horse whose ascetic nature is reminded by Greek myths, is crowned by the presence of Apollo, the divinity of numerous powers, above the clerical law, who, aided by the prophets and the Oracle, offered the people his knowledge of the future. Irimescu carves legends in bronze and reiterates for his public the myths at the base of sketching an entire community.

References

MIHALACHE, Marin, "Ion Irimescu", State Publishing House for Literature and Art, Bucharest, 1958. SCHILERU, Eugen, "Ion Irimescu", Meridiane Publishing House, Bucharest, 1969.

Dimensions

depth 26 cm, width 82 cm, height 135 cm, custom 135 × 82 × 26 cm

Description

bronze, signed and dated on the base, by incision, "irimescu ion, 1973"

Research information

A version of the artwork is reproduced in the monograph "Irimescu. 100 de ani" ("Irimescu. 100 years"), Alexandru Cebuc, Arc Publishing House, Bucharest, 2003, at p. 6.

Dating

1973

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