Marino Marini (Italian, 1901-1980) - 'Il Greco', 1978
QUICK FACTS
Type
Museum Object
Categories
Era
1978
Origin
🇮🇹 Italy
Brand
Labyrinth Florence
Artist/Maker
Marino Marini
Rarity
Scarce (6/10)
Discovered
Jan 21, 2026
1 months ago
DESCRIPTION
This is a late-career color etching and aquatint by the celebrated Italian modernist Marino Marini. Titled 'Il Greco', the composition features two stylized figures and a horse, a recurring and central theme for the artist. Executed in 1978, the work displays Marini's mature style, blending archaic influences reminiscent of Etruscan and early Greek sculpture with a distinctly modern sensibility. The visible plate mark confirms the intaglio process, and the textured quality of the aquatint background provides a dramatic contrast to the stark, linear forms.
CULTURAL ECHOES
Where This Object Echoes
Marini's simplified, elongated figures and horse forms directly echo the style of Etruscan bronze and terracotta sculpture from ancient Tuscany.
The rigid, frontal poses and stark forms recall Greek 'Kouros' and 'Kore' statues, an influence explicitly referenced in the title 'Il Greco'.
Marini's work is in dialogue with other modernists who looked to 'primitive' art for inspiration, such as Picasso's Iberian period or Giacometti's engagement with Egyptian forms.
Ritual & Ceremonial Use
- •Collecting modern prints as an accessible entry-point into an artist's oeuvre.
- •The academic study and cataloging of an artist's graphic work into a catalogue raisonné.
Meaning Through Time
The horse and rider symbolized military power, heroism, and aristocratic status (e.g., the equestrian class).
The theme shifts to an allegory for humanity's struggle and anxiety, with the rider often depicted as precarious and vulnerable.
The form becomes a vehicle for pure artistic expression, exploring line, color, and texture, with less emphasis on narrative and more on formal qualities.
HISTORICAL STORY
DID YOU KNOW?
Marini's famous "Horse and Rider" theme was inspired by seeing the destitute people of Lombardy fleeing on horseback during World War II bombings.
Despite being primarily famous as a sculptor, Marini was a prolific printmaker, creating over 600 graphic works throughout his career.
MATERIAL & CONDITION
Surface
The print is on a heavy wove paper, showing a distinct rectangular plate mark from the intaglio press. The image combines sharp, drypoint-like lines with broad tonal areas of aquatint, particularly noticeable in the textured grey background which has a granular, almost metallic character. The ink appears rich and well-impressed.
Weight & Feel
As a framed print under glass, it would feel moderately heavy, perhaps 8-12 lbs (4-5 kg), with the weight coming primarily from the frame and glazing rather than the artwork itself.
Condition
From the images, the print appears to be in excellent condition, with no visible foxing, fading, or mat burn. The colors are strong. It is well-presented in what appears to be archival matting and a modern gilt frame.
RARITY ANALYSIS
Genuinely harder to find. Perhaps only dozens come to market annually. Collectors actively watch for these pieces.
Typical Characteristics
- Dozens per year at market
- Documented provenance valued
- Active collector pursuit
EXPERT ANALYSIS
Museum-Trained Art Historian
Confidence is near-certain due to the presence of a gallery label that includes the artist, title, date, and, most importantly, the specific catalogue raisonné number, which allows for definitive verification in scholarly literature.
KEY EVIDENCE
- 1Artist identified as Marino Marini via the clear 'MARINO' pencil signature.
- 2Title ('Il Greco'), date (1978), medium (Etching Aquatint), and edition size (90) are confirmed by the gallery label.
- 3The label provides the catalogue raisonné number 'Guastella A208', definitively documenting the work in the authoritative catalog of Marini's graphics.
- 4The style, with its archaic influences and modernist execution, is highly characteristic of Marini's late work.
- 5Physical characteristics, such as the plate mark and aquatint texture, are consistent with the stated medium.
UNCERTAINTIES
- •The gallery's asking price of €7,200 is substantially higher than recent auction results for the same print, indicating a significant retail markup compared to its auction-based fair market value.
WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY
- →Confirm the condition out of the frame (de-framing should only be done by a professional).
- →Examine the verso (back) of the sheet for any publisher's blindstamps or other markings.
- →Verify the sheet dimensions against the measurements listed in the Guastalla catalogue raisonné.
ESTIMATED VALUE
Updated: Feb 26, 2026
- Market comparables from auctions & retail
- Condition, completeness & craftsmanship
- Current collector demand & trends
- Low = quick sale, high = patient seller
For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.
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