Marino Marini was one of the leading sculptors of the twentieth century, best known for his Cavalli (Horses) and his innovative representations of this traditional subject. He was, however, a gifted and spirited draughtsman and painter alongside his sculptural practice, as is visible in the present work.

La Parata II (The Parade II) demonstrates Marini's continual investigations into the equine form and the relationship between horse and rider. With an almost Cubist abstraction, Marini evokes the simultaneous order and chaos of a parade of horses, a rider clearly visible on the horse nearest to the viewer, while the horses behind seem riderless and anxious; one beast rears its head, eager to continue the march, or perhaps overwhelmed by the noise and bustle of the parade. The angular and simplified form of the subjects demonstrate detachment with a hint of brutality.

The strong pink and red palette of the work give suggest a charged atmosphere, infusing the painting with a sense of violence and the possibility of eruption. This unsettling representation of the subject is characteristic of Marini's artistic output in the years following the Second World War. Prior to the War, Marini's horses had a more rounded, gentle appearance, often depicted in harmony with man. His experiences during the War, witnessing Italian peasants and their steeds flee in horror from bombing and artillery, irreparably altered his outlook; his portrayal of horses and other subjects afterwards took on a haunted, violent form.

Although this works leans towards abstraction, Marini remained faithful to figuration throughout his career. This was in spite of the surging popularity of modern art movements that tended towards abstraction, including expressionism and Futurism.

This works comes with a certificate of authenticity, attached to photograph of work, no 91, dated September 16, 2010.