λ Igor Mitoraj (Polish 1944-2014)Sleeping Head (Testa Addormentata)Bronze on base Signed, numbered 7/8 and stamped with the foundry mark Fonderia d'Arte Massimo del Chiaro, Lucca, Italy Inc. base: 36 x 40cm (14 x 15½ in.)The current lot is a small maquette study for the large-scale Testa Addormentata located in Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London and was created in bronze in 1983. Mitoraj's work combines elements of surrealism with minute study of ancient Greece and Rome. Testa Addormentata depicts a bandaged face, sleeping, resting on its side. The green patina is particular effective giving the sculpture an almost emerald glow. Mitoraj studied at the Krakow Academy of Art under the tutelage of Tadeusz Kantor. He held his first solo exhibition in 1967 at the Krzysztofory Gallery in Poland. In 1968 he continued his studies in Paris at the National School of Art. Mitoraj started to experiment with sculpture after travelling around Mexico , inspired by the Latin American culture. His first major solo exhibition was held in 1976 where he showcased sculpture for the first time. This exhibition was a major turning point in Mitoraj's career who now regarding himself foremost as a sculptor. Mitoraj worked in terracotta, bronze and marble, after a trip to Carrara, Italy. Mitoraj's work stemmed from the study of antiquities. He was fascinated by the human body and how it has been depicted through different civilisations. His work is usually presented in a fragmented state, emphasising the fragility and beauty of the human body and reflecting the way in which antiquities are damaged and suffer through time. This analogy can be applied to the fragility of nature and the human impact upon it. Other monumental sculptures by the artist can be found in Valencia, Spain, Castle Square in Warsaw, Poland and a large scale study of Icarus in from of the Temple of Concordia in the Valley of the Temples.