This autumn the Modern and Contemporary Art sale in Milan shows the enduring appeal of 20th Century Italian art in two lavish catalogues.

One volume is entirely devoted to another important section of the Private Collection titled Italian Identity, successfully presented in London this October. Sotheby’s is delighted to offer this new segment, composed of nearly 60 lots, which contains many ground-breaking works by early 20th century Italian masters like Giacomo Balla and Arturo Martini which lead into Modern masterpieces by Giorgio de Chirico, Massimo Campigli and Mario Sironi.

Canto patriottico by Giacomo Balla is a vibrant canvas where the iconic Italian flag colours are combined together with a chromatic and synthetic study of shape, lyrically recalling the interventionist protest and marches which agitated the country in 1915.