“Accept it luv it happens to us all.” That’s what Time seems to be saying at the Monumento del Tempo. This isn’t your typical outdoor monument. The Monumento del Tempo is actually a statue inside the Museo Revoltella. It is located in a gallery of modern art.
The Museo Revoltella has an interesting history. Baron Pasquale Revoltella founded it in 1872. He left his palace and art collection to Trieste. He also provided money for the museum’s growth. The museum expanded and acquired the Brunner Palace in 1968. This provided more space for exhibitions.
The Monumento del Tempo is by Donato Barcaglia from Lombardy. It comes from his peak period. He gained recognition at the 1873 Exhibition in Vienna. He later won prizes in Philadelphia in 1876 and in London, Trieste, and Milan in 1881.
The Monumento del Tempo features two allegorical figures. They represent youth and the passing of time. They are in a dynamic struggle. The woman symbolizes youth. She is at the point where her youth is declining. She desperately tries to hold back further decline.
Time resists her. He holds a scythe in one hand. In the other, he holds an hourglass. He points out the path he must take. He makes it clear that her attempts are futile.
The Museum bought the Monumento del Tempo in 1877. You can find it on the fourth floor. It is among other sculptures by artists from the 19th and 20th centuries. Take a moment to reflect on the message of the Monumento del Tempo. Time passes for everyone. It’s a universal experience.