With the latest edition to its sculpture collection, inspired by local mythology centred on the Roman goddess Diana, the small town of Nemi possesses a unique heritage of open air bronze statuary. The works have all been donated to the town by the eminent Roman artist Luciano Mastrolorenzi.
His new creation, a reclining Great Earth Mother, modeled on an ancient Roman cult figure, found near the ruins of the Temple of Diana on the shores of nearby Lake Nemi, adorns the main square in front of the aristocratic Ruspoli Castle. Other bronzes by Mastrolorenzi occupy prominent positions around the town and include two lions heads decorating the town fountain, a head of the infamous Roman emperor Caligula, a snake-haired Medusa and a splendid Diana the huntress running with her dog at the entrance to the town.
The lions heads and the Medusa were inspired by ancient Roman bronzes recovered from the bed of the lake in the 1930s. They had been part of the decorations of two colossal ceremonial barges, constructed by Caligula to serve rituals connected with the goddess, that had lain under the water for two thousand years. The ships were recovered after a lengthy and extremely complex operation that involved draining the lake, but were unfortunately destroyed during the last war.
Rome-born Mastrolorenzi has been spending part of the year in Nemi since he was a boy and has a special attachment to the town. On Nemi part, the town council has expressed its gratitude for the generous donations of his works by presenting him with the keys to the town and nominating him an honourary citizen in 2006.
Among Mastrolorenzis most important past achievements is the reconstruction of the bronze doors of Cologne Cathedral, Germany.
