Brandini, Sansone -- "Samson and the Philistine", Collezione P. Marino.

Speranza

A SINGULAR PASSION: Architect Peter Marino’s Rare Renaissance and Baroque Bronzes Go on View At The Huntington Library

Apollo and Marsyas (detail)

Giovanni Battista Foggini (1652-1725)

Italy (Florence), about 1710-20

Peter Marino Collection.

Photo courtesy of The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

The particular habits and passions of art collectors especially those who count themselves among the arbiters of taste, style, and design – that rarefied breed of architects, decorators, and designers, often comes as a startling surprise.

Falling into that category is one of New York’s über modernist architect whose European collection of 28 bronze statuettes from the mid-16th to the mid-18th century will be exhibited in the “Beauty & Power: Renaissance and Baroque Bronzes from the Peter Marino Collection” at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California from October 9, 2010 to January 24, 2011.

Samson and the Philistine
Perhaps by Baccio Bandinelli (1488–1560)

Italy (Florence), about 1550–60

Peter Marino Collection

Photo courtesy of The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens

Marino, referred to as a “Design Giant” by Interior Design, is known for his one-stop shop approach to architecture and décor, has helped redefine modern luxury, emphasizing texture, scale, light and dialogue between interior and exterior, gliding effortlessly between commercial, cultural, residential and retail architecture with such high-end fashion boutiques as Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton and Zegna.

As a residential decorator to the rich and famous one of his first clients Andy Warhol (who favored early American furniture, French Art Deco, and modern paintings), initially inspired Marino to becoming a collector extraordinaire.

Laocoön

After the ancient sculpture

Probably cast in Italy, 17th century

Peter Marino Collection

Photo courtesy of The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

Marino’s interest in bronze statuettes places him among a group of discerning and cultured collectors who have admired these small bronze sculptures for their beauty and complex composition reflecting a subject matter inspired by Greek and Roman mythology.

Editor’s Note: Interested collectors should check out VandM.com for one of the best selections of bronze statuettes offered in a wide range of prices.

Bacchus and Ariadne

Corneille van Clève (1646–1732)

France, about 1703–04

Cast in France, early 18th century

Peter Marino Collection

Photo courtesy of The Huntington Library, Art Collection, and Botanical Gardens

The Huntington is the first US venue (previously exhibited this past spring in London) for the “Beauty and Power” which will travel to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in early 2011. http://www.huntington.org/ (626) 405-2100.