Mediterranean Pine
The sculpture «Mediterranean Pine» by José Crespo is an artistic representation of the natural beauty and resilience of Mediterranean nature. Crafted in bronze, the piece captures a typical pine tree of the Mediterranean region, with its slender, curved trunk and broad, lush canopy.
The pine’s trunk, slim and slightly twisted, is intricately detailed to showcase the texture of the bark and the sinuous curves characteristic of these trees. The canopy, wide and dense, is meticulously crafted to reflect the abundance of leaves and branches, creating a sense of volume and vitality.
The patina applied to the bronze adds rich, natural depth to the piece, with tones ranging from the dark brown of the trunk to the greens and ochres of the canopy, mimicking the real colors of the Mediterranean pine. This variation in color not only brings the sculpture to life but also highlights the details and textures of each part of the tree.
The base of the sculpture, made of polished wood, provides a warm contrast to the bronze and enhances the pine’s figure. The base also adds stability and elegance to the piece, framing the artwork and drawing attention to the tree as the focal point.
«The idea of creating tree sculptures has been on my mind from the very beginning. If time allows, this will likely be the first in a series.
If there’s an appealing and artistic subject, it’s a tree—almost any kind. I think my years in Special Operations units, living in nature and often sleeping under the open sky in the Pyrenees, the Sierra de la Demanda, Tierra de Cameros, and so many other places, have left their mark. It’s awe-inspiring to observe the strength and lushness of the oak, the incredible forms of the beech, the majesty of the horse chestnut, and, why not, the delicate balance of the Mediterranean pine, with its broad canopy supported by an endlessly tall trunk.
This tree is inspired by one of the pines I saw in Rome during my time there in 2005. It doesn’t correspond exactly to any specific tree from the photos I took, but it captures a bit of all of them.
For this sculpture, the combination of colors in the patina applied during the final stage of casting—green, red, brown, yellow—is essential to its finish. The effect of seeing a tree represented in a sculpture is completely different from that of a traditional subject, both for the artist and for those admiring the piece.
I began this figure in Mons in July 2005 and completed it there at the end of September.»
José Crespo