Additional information
by Marco Riccomini (Introduction by)
- This volume introduces and describes 16 African masks belonging to the collection of Leinuo Zhang, a young Chinese art lover and collector
The masks in this book, all presented by two or more images, are accompanied by brief commentaries that offer readers -- be they scholars or enthusiasts -- an insight into these veritable masterpieces of African art, which in most cases boast an exceptional pedigree, having been included in the most important international collections of extra-European art. Even though the works with which Zhang has chosen to surround himself are not all extra-European, as Marco Riccini explains in his introduction, offering a broader framework for the interpretation of Zhang's esthetic choices, we have chosen to devote this elegant and carefully crafted publication to a specific aspect of African material culture. Text in English and French.
Author Biography
Marco Riccini, after 10 years as Head of the Old Masters Department at Christie's, now lives with his suitcase in hand, alternating quick incursions into the capitals of the art market and tours of forgotten locations of which no one speaks. He has contributed vastly to art magazines and catalogs, and has written a number of volumes on 18th-century Italian artists, such as Donato Creti. Le opere su carta (2012), Giuseppe Maria Crespi. I disegni e le stampe (2014), and I Gandolfi. Disegni della raccolta Certani alla Fondazione Giorgio Cini (2018). He has written and appeared in the documentary I Carracci. La rivoluzione silenziosa (2019).
