Fallen Rider and Horse Figure, 1972

Marino Marini (1901–1980) was an Italian sculptor and painter renowned for his stylized equestrian statues and female nudes. Born in Pistoia, Italy, he studied painting and sculpture at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, beginning in 1917. Although he initially focused on painting, Marini turned his attention primarily to sculpture around 1922, drawing inspiration from Etruscan art and the works of Arturo Martini. In 1929, he succeeded Martini as professor at the Scuola d’Arte di Villa Reale in Monza, a position he held until 1940. During this period, Marini traveled frequently to Paris, associating with artists such as Massimo Campigli, Giorgio de Chirico, and Alberto Magnelli.

Marini's oeuvre is characterized by recurring motifs, notably the horse and rider, which evolved from classical forms to more abstract and expressive representations, reflecting his response to contemporary events. His "Pomona" series, depicting female nudes symbolizing fertility, and his portrait busts further showcase his exploration of form and emotion. In 1944, Marini participated in the "Twentieth-Century Italian Art" exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He was awarded the Grand Prize for Sculpture at the Venice Biennale in 1952 and the Feltrinelli Prize at the Accademia dei Lincei in Rome in 1954. Major retrospectives of his work were held at the Kunsthaus Zürich in 1962 and at the Palazzo Venezia in Rome in 1966. In 1973, a permanent installation of his work opened at the Galleria d’Arte Moderna in Milan. Marini's works are held in prominent collections worldwide, including the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C.

Marini's market presence is notable, with his sculptures achieving significant auction results. In 2010, his work "Cavaliere" was auctioned for a record price of $7.2 million. His legacy is preserved in dedicated institutions, such as the Museo Marino Marini in Florence, established in 1988, which houses a comprehensive collection of his works.