FRANCESCO MESSINA
(Linguaglossa 1900 - Milan 1995)

Trained in Genoa in the workshop of a marble worker and later at the Linguistic Academy of Fine Arts, in the 1923s he made a series of important study trips to European capitals, visiting the main museums. In 1926, in Paris, he meets Rodin, who will help him to clarify his classical-naturalistic vocation. After a brief futurist interlude, he concentrated on examples of the Italian tradition and in particular on the masters of the Tuscan fifteenth century, approaching the twentieth century group with whom he exhibited in 1929 and 1932. He moved to Milan in 1934, since 1939 he has held the chair of sculpture of the Brera Academy succeeding Adolfo Wildt. In the Thirties he performed the successful series of Boxers and received important official commissions, including the bronze bust of Cardinal Schuster and the monumental works for the city of Pavia. Critics' accolades culminate with the personal room at the 1942 Roman Quadriennale and the international sculpture prize at the 1 Venice Biennale. Some of his most famous works belong to the XNUMXs, such as the Dying Horse for the RAI Palace in Rome and the monument of Pius XIXNUMX in the basilica of San Pietro in the Vatican. The sculptor's museum-studio is housed in the deconsecrated church of San Sisto in Milan.