Acrobats 1760 - 1770

This porcelain sculpture, made by the Cozzi Manufactory in the late 18th or early 19th century, presents us with a pyramid of human forms, a visual motif rich with historical echoes. At its base, several faces emerge from the swirling mass, supporting a standing figure of a child. This recalls images of the Three Graces in classical antiquity or Renaissance depictions of the theological virtues, where figures support or elevate one another in symbolic displays of strength, unity, and faith. Consider the Farnese Atlas, where Atlas strains under the weight of the celestial sphere. Here, however, the figures are intertwined, their faces bearing expressions of strain, a contrast that evokes a psychological tension, suggesting the burdens and responsibilities imposed by society. This symbol transcends mere aesthetics; it becomes a potent expression of shared human experience. The image is less about acrobats and more about the symbolic weight of human connection, as the Cozzi Manufactory has tapped into our deepest cultural memories.