Heirs of Timo Bortolotti

A. Panzetta, Timo Bortolotti Sculptor (1884-1954) , Montevarchi 1996, n. 116

Timo Bortolotti was born in Darfo, in the Camonica Valley, on June 15, 1884. His father, Angelo, managed stone quarries, and from an early age, Timo developed a unique sensitivity to form, volume, and space, developed through direct contact with materials and the techniques of extraction and processing. Having lost his father at the age of eight, he was guided toward the family business, while also cultivating an early artistic vocation that led him to briefly study at the Brera Academy in Milan. The death of his first wife, Irma Laini, in 1910, and the serious injuries he suffered during the First World War profoundly affected his life. After a long convalescence, Bortolotti fully resumed his activities, dedicating himself increasingly to sculpture, which until then had been a private passion. In 1921, he opened his first studio in Brescia, where he worked until 1924, creating numerous works, including the Tonale ossuary monument. In the following years, he intensified his exhibition activity, participating in important events. He later moved to Milan, where he opened a studio on Via Vivaio, alongside Adolfo Wildt, Achille Funi, and Pietro Marussig. 1930 marked a pivotal moment in his career, with his debut at the Venice Biennale, where he participated again in 1934, 1936, 1940, and 1942. In 1935, he was awarded the Savoy-Brabant Prize, and in 1936, he received an honorary award in Budapest. In 1937, he won the Grand Prix at the Paris International Expo, alongside Arturo Martini and Marino Marini, which allowed him to consolidate his position in the art scene of the time and receive numerous commissions. Among his most significant works are Nike , Dioscuro , Daughter of Mary , Lombard Girl , Blonde Braids and The Fisherman , works executed in the 1930s, a decade during which he formed a friendship with artists such as Arturo Martini, Mario Sironi, Carlo Carrà and Raffaele De Grada. During World War II, Bortolotti continued to work, alternating between stays in Milan and Valle Camonica, a region to which he remained deeply attached. After the war, he gradually withdrew from exhibitions, dedicating himself to a more private study, focusing primarily on the human figure and themes of work and the human condition. He died in Milan on October 15, 1954.
Reference bibliography A. Panzetta, Timo Bortolotti Sculptor (1884-1954), Montevarchi 1996;
E. Flocchini, A Splendid Future. The Great Art Adventure of Timo Bortolotti (1884-1954), Milan 2024