Enea. L’avventura di restare

The garden of the Boncompagni Ludovisi House Museum is home to a sculpture by Reinhard Pfingst, inspired by the figure of the Trojan hero who landed on the coast of Lazio, from whom, according to legend, descended the lineage that would go on to found Rome.

A German sculptor, painter and writer who has been active on the Italian and European art scene for several years, Pfingst is part of the abstract art movement, blending Nordic and Mediterranean elements in his style. The work is the centerpiece of the exhibition “Enea. L’avventura di restare”, curated by Alice Falsaperla and Francesca Quarantini in collaboration with Galleria La Nuvola. It is the result of the German artist’s long engagement with the material. Begun in 2020, the sculpture was completed in 2025, after undergoing a long and complex creative process. By carving the stone with hand tools and relying solely on the spatial outline of a paper model, Pfingst expresses a modern sensibility rooted in a profoundly contemporary language, whilst utilizing traditional techniques and materials.

In the garden of the Villino Boncompagni Ludovisi, the sculpture stands out as the undisputed protagonist of the outdoor space, enhancing the surrounding natural setting and evoking memories of the famous park of the 17th-century Villa Ludovisi, which once housed a significant collection of classical sculptures from the Horti Sallustiani.