Bust of Diego, 1954
Between 1951 and 1957, Alberto Giacometti created a series of busts and heads of Diego, some of which from memory. Most of these busts cut-off at mid-height are solid, with no base, and made with kneaded material, which accentuates the expressiveness. “[Diego] had posed ten thousand times for me, when he posed I did not recognise him anymore. I wanted to have him pose to see what I see”. The figure of Diego featured throughout Giacometti’s career: the first bust modelled in plasteline, which was also his first sculpture, dates from 1914, the last from 1965. Thus for fifty years Diego, who was also his brother’s assistant, regularly sat in sessions posing for his brother.
Alberto Giacometti (1901 - 1966)
Aimé Maeght was his art dealer. The artist’s first exhibition was presented at the Galerie Maeght in Paris in 1951. Working with Aimé and Marguerite Maeght, Alberto Giacometti would donate exceptional works, from the first works with surrealist influence until works at the end of his life in the 60s. The Foundation possesses the largest collection of the artist in Europe, with the Zurich Kunsthaus and the Fondation Giacometti in Paris.
