NEW YORK, Dec. 17 – The most famous work of art donated by Italy to the United Nations in New York is Arnaldo Pomodoro’s much-photographed ‘Sphere within a Sphere’, which has welcomed visitors at the entrance to the UN Headquarters since 1996. It’s not the only one: the UN gardens also house Giacomo Manzù’s ‘Mother and Child’, which was gifted by the Italian government a few years earlier, in 1989.
From left to right are: Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali; Arnaldo Pomodoro; Lamberto Dini, and Paolo Fulci, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations. UN Photo/Milton Grant. www.unmultimedia.org/photo/
Today, on the anniversary of Manzù’s death, the Italian Permanent Representative to the UN, Maurizio Massari paid tribute to the values of peace and hope for future generations expressed by the sculpture. “May his art be an inspiration in our quest for peace,” said the Italian Ambassador.
The planning and design of the sculpture was calculated to the most minute detail, including the choice of oakwood for the structure to guarantee a better fusion between the components. The artist cast this sculpture out of bronze which was then placed on a 6’’ granite base. One can see a taller figure, the mother, holding a smaller one, the child. Both are raising their arms, while the child rests on the mother’s bosom. Manzù had already explored this theme numerous times, however, in this case, the movement of the mother mimics one of lifting her child, symbolizing life, hope and the future.
The statue was given by the Italian government to the United Nations as a tribute of peace. At the commemoration of the sculpture, the President of Italy, Francesco Cossiga (1928 – 2010), said the statue “signified a glorification of life and consequently, of peace.” Its presentation to the United Nations expressed the sentiments of friendship and affection with which Italy regarded the world body and its support for the invaluable work done by the Organization in the area of international peace and security. Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar (1920 – 2020), in accepting the gift said, “It represents love, beauty and hope for future generations.” (@OnuItalia)
