Sculpted Ceramic Plate Attributed to Angelo Biancini, 1960s

Ceramic plaque depicting two lovers, attributed to Angelo Biancini and made in the 1960s

Ø 16 cm, height 19 cm

Angelo Biancini (1911–1988) was one of the most important Italian sculptors and ceramic artists of the 20th century. He was a prominent figure in the Italian art scene, particularly for his prolific work in sacred art, monumental sculpture, and ceramics. He was born in Castel Bolognese (Ravenna) in 1911. He trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Faenza and later in Rome, where he studied sculpture with artists such as Michele Guerrisi. Biancini is best known for his long and influential career as a teacher of ceramics and sculpture. From 1942 to 1980, he held the chair of sculpture at the Gaetano Ballardini Institute of Ceramic Art in Faenza, Italy’s most prestigious institution for ceramics.nHe was also a lecturer and later Director of the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome.

Biancini’s style is characterized by a synthesis of figurative tradition and a modern, stylized interpretation. He is renowned for his extensive production of sacred and public works, in which he succeeded in combining monumentality and spirituality. He primarily used bronze, marble, and ceramics (glazed terracotta or maiolica). His ceramic work is particularly significant. Biancini worked at several manufacturers, including Rometti and, early in his career, the Manifattura Ceramica Umbra in Deruta. His ceramic work ranges from religious and mythological figures to decorative sculptures, often characterized by solid volumes and essential forms.