VIEWPOINT Three features synonymous with the Tuscan countryside come together in the north of the region to create this moving and enchanting scene.

It would be diffi cult to imagine a scene better able to capture more elements traditionally associated with the Tuscan countryside. This poignant sculpture is located in front of a row of cypress trees, set against a backdrop of Chianti vines, in the north of Tuscany. The fi gures are carved from terracotta (Italian for baked earth) and evoke an air of mystery. The observer is compelled to ponder over the faces of the woman and the man, alternately beseeching and downcast, given their

glorious surroundings. They are of another time, a bygone era, yet their emotions are universal, evoking pleasure tinged with pathos in the beholder. Terracotta has been used for decorative art works in Italy since time immemorial and its versatility means it has many practical uses, on top of such aesthetically pleasing purposes. The sculpture, set among such ancient Tuscan features as these cypress trees and vines, serves as a reminder of human frailty against the immutability of nature. ■ !

14 ITALIA! March 2007