Renato Bertelli

Renato Bertelli (born 1900 in Lastra a Signa in Florence, died 1974 in Florence) was an Italian Futurist artist.

His most, and perhaps only, noted work is the 1933 ceramic bust of Benito Mussolini in the aeroceramica style, Profilo continuo del Duce (also cited as Profilo contino del Duce). The title is sometimes given as "Head of Mussolini"^[1] but is better known as "Head of Mussolini (Continuous Profile)"^[2], "Continuous profile of Mussolini"^[3], or "Continuous Profile – Head of Mussolini".^[4] The sculpture is one block with the Mussolini's distinctive profile continuing around 360 degrees.^[5]

The sculpture was later mass produced in several versions, in bronzed terracotta,^[3] wood, and aluminium.^[6] Mussolini, with his taste for self-commemoration, approved it as an official portrait.^[3][4]

References

1. ^ "Head of Mussolini". University of Southern California. http://www.usc.edu/schools/annenberg/asc/projects/comm544/library/images/734.html. Retrieved 23 February 2010. 
2. ^ Staff writer (11 February 2005). "Italy in pictures". The St. Petersburg Times. http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=2730. Retrieved 23 February 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "Sculpture, Profilo contino del Duce (Continuous profile of Mussolini), 1933". Florida International University. http://www.wolfsonian.org/collections/c7/propaganda8.html. Retrieved 23 February 2010. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "A Secret History of Clay". Tate Liverpool. 28 May 2004. http://www.tate.org.uk/liverpool/exhibitions/historyofclay/section2.htm. Retrieved 3 March 2010. 
5. ^ "In Pictures: The Russian Linesman". BBC News. 29 July 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/southwestwales/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8174000/8174605.stm. Retrieved 3 March 2010. 
6. ^ "Lot 49 Renato Bertelli. 'Continous profile of Mussolini'". http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/3378026. Retrieved 3 March 2010. 

External links

• The "Continuous Profile" at a ceramics exhibition at the Tate Liverpool
• Bronzed mass-produced "Continuous Profile"
• Images of "Profilo continuo del Duce" on the internet art auction site artnet
• Card advertising "Profilo continuo del Duce, opera dello scultore Bertelli ('work of scupltor Bertelli') "in various sizes and materials from an Italian Militaria website.

Persondata
Name	Bertelli, Renato
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1900
Place of birth
Date of death	1974
Place of death