Boy on Clydesdale by Franco Vianello

Boy on Clydesdale

Bronze Sculpture by Franco Vianello (1937 - 2015)

A charming and deeply personal bronze sculpture by renowned Napa Valley sculptor Franco Vianello, Boy on Clydesdale depicts a young rider mounted atop a powerful draft horse. Rich with character and warmth, the piece reflects Vianello's lifelong fascination with the relationship between people, animals, and the rural landscapes that shaped his life and artistic vision.

Believed to be a self-portrait depicting Franco as a young boy, the sculpture offers a rare glimpse into the artist's own story. The expressive modeling, natural movement, and beautifully patinated bronze demonstrate the craftsmanship for which Vianello became known throughout his distinguished career.

Among the many sculptures Gallery 1870 acquired directly from Franco Vianello over the years, Boy on Clydesdale has always held special significance within our collection. If the work is indeed a self-portrait, it represents one of the most personal subjects we encountered from the artist—a sculpture that connects not only to Vianello's artistic legacy, but also to his life and memories.

Dimensions

• Bronze Sculpture

• Approximately 13" H x 13" L x 6" W

Provenance

This sculpture was acquired directly from Franco Vianello prior to the artist's passing and remains part of Gallery 1870's personal collection. It is the final Vianello sculpture available from our last acquisition directly from the artist.

Collector's Note

Franco Vianello's sculptures can be found in private collections throughout Napa Valley and beyond. As opportunities to acquire his work continue to become increasingly limited, pieces with direct artist provenance hold special significance.

Among all of the Franco Vianello sculptures Gallery 1870 has acquired over the years, Boy on Clydesdale has long been considered one of the most meaningful works in our collection. Believed to depict the artist himself as a young boy, it offers a uniquely personal connection to the life of the sculptor and the experiences that helped shape his artistic vision.

Availability

This is the final Franco Vianello sculpture available from Gallery 1870's collection.

For additional information, photographs, or shipping arrangements, please contact the gallery.

 

Franco Vianello – (1937 – 2015) renowned sculptor and versatile modern artist with roots in Renaissance, Italy. 

Franco Vianello was born in Venice in 1937 to a family with a heritage of over a century of sculptors and founders.  He began his traditional training at nine and by eleven his skills and talents were cognized by famed sculptor, Napolone Martinuzzi, who accepted him as an apprentice.  His exceptional talent at the age of thirteen qualified him to study at the Institute of Arts in Venice where he earned his master’s. 

Franco came to the United States in 1959 as a recognized and highly respected sculptor, having created many bronze works, including life-size bronzes.  Most of his Italian work was for cities and churches and a few well-known collectors, including Peggy Guggenheim. 

Franco started the first (other than New York) lost-wax sculpture foundry in Berkeley, California in 1960.  He taught bronze sculpting techniques and set up lost-wax casting facilities, including the University of California at Berkeley. 

After serving in the United States Army, he and his wife, Jane, settled in the East Bay of San Francisco.  He resumed his career in sculpture and created works that are seen throughout the world and the United States.  Some of his favorite works are historically correct pieces that depict early California life and some of its’ wild animals.  He also enjoys sculpting and casting modern pieces, classical and thematic works.  Many of his sculpture are 18-24 inches tall and fit easily into any home. 

Vianello is one of the few sculptors experienced in enlarging statues to heroic sizes and casting them in bronze.  Some larger bronze sculptures include: 

Tuna Man: monument on Shelter Island in San Diego, California; 

Four Horsemen: at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage 

Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; 

Bucking Horse: for the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alberta, Canada; 

Pony Express: in Old Town Sacramento, California (co-sculptor); 

Leif Ericson: Seattle, Washington. 

He has created bronze sculptures for: The Audubon Society, Champion International, Scripps Oceanographic Institute, Wells Fargo Bank, Dillingham Corp., Levi Strauss, San Francisco Bohemian Club, San Diego Historical Society, and the San Francisco Academy of Sciences. 

Franco has received many awards and prizes for his work.  He is especially proud of the Trustee’s Gold Medal unanimously voted by the directors of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center and the National Academy of Western Art.