Statuette "Romantic"

Marvel at the mastery of one of the 20th century’s most renowned Italian sculptors, Niccolò Peroli, better known as Nick. His classic masterpiece represents a beautiful reverie of childhood, a time of unblemished joy and freedom. This sculpted rendition of a elated young boy, clothed in an unusual mix of warm coat, shoes and shorts, strikes both intrigue and empathy. Perhaps an embodiment of his humble background, the boy's attire exemplifies that happiness is not bound by riches.

The famed sculptor Nick was born in 1912 into a shoemaker's family and impressed all with his eclectic artistry right from an early age. He mastered various crafts but held an inexplicable passion for drawing and painting that led him to join the School of Applied Arts in Bergamo and the Academy of Fine Arts in Verona.

Nick's life and work extended beyond art. He was a strong critic of the fascist dictatorship in Italy, partook in underground activities and joined the anti-fascist artists association 'Corrente' in 1939. Defying odds, he escaped arrest and immigrated to Amsterdam in 1940 where he continued to live, creating his impressive body of work under the pseudonym 'Nick'.