Nymph of the Fields 1915

Carlo Pittaluga, sometime in the first half of the 20th century, carved this dreamy nymph from a block of stone. Look at the way the drapery clings and flows, how the marble seems to breathe. There's something so tender about the way Pittaluga has worked this material. The surface is smooth, almost pearlescent, but with a subtle grain that catches the light. It reminds me of early Renaissance figures, but with an added touch of wistful romance. The flower she holds – how delicately the petals curl! It’s not just a symbol of beauty, but of ephemerality, the transient nature of life itself. And the way her gown gathers at her waist, just a few deft strokes to suggest the folds of the fabric. For me, this piece is like a conversation with artists like Carpeaux, who balanced classical ideals with a distinctly modern sensibility. It’s a reminder that art is never created in a vacuum; it's an ongoing dialogue, a whisper passed down through generations.