Sacrifice

This magnificent sculpture is the work of Leonardo Bistolfi who completed the work in 1911. It is part of Rome’s Vittoriano monument located in Piazza Venezia. I photographed the sculpture on 18 Sept 2024 at 14:33 against a dramatic sky.

The “Sacrifice” is a group of four allegorical figures: a slave, about to be freed from the chains that have held him back, supporting a dying brother in arms who fought for the unification of Italy, captured in his extreme, heroic act of sacrifice – as he receives a final kiss from the mother of freedom, a woman wearing a Phrygian cap (a symbol of freedom), sitting on a Roman altar. The Family, represented by another female figure, helps hold the dying hero.

I have two versions, the full frame version and a tight crop.

Sony A7iv + Sony GM 70-200mm f2.8 II
EXIF: ISO 100, f8, 1/500 s, @70mm