$49,938
Harriet Whitney Frishmuth (American, 1880-1980) The Hunt Signed "(c) HARRIET W. FRISHMUTH" l.r. and foundry mark "Gorham Co. Founders, QGDD" l.r. Bronze, height 25 1/2 in. (64.8 cm), base 23 x 6 1/2 in. (58.4 x 16.5 cm). Condition: Bow broken, patina worn, chip to base, light abrasions, surface grime. N.B. Born in Philadelphia in 1880, Harriet Whitney Frishmuth was one of the most esteemed and ground-breaking female sculptors of her time. In her youth, she lived and studied in Switzerland, France, and Germany. At the age of 19, at which time she moved to Paris and briefly studied with Auguste Rodin. Following her return to the United States, Frishmuth attended the Art Students League of New York and, soon after, began to produce her renowned bronzes of female nudes in agile, graceful movement. Desha Deltiel, a Yugoslav dancer as well as Frishmuth's favorite model, posed for many of her pieces, such as The Vine ; stylistic similarities indicate that Desha may have also posed for The Hunt . In 1928, The Hunt was one of the 29 sculptures in Frishmuth's solo exhibition at Grand Central Art Galleries. The work depicts the goddess Diana, clasping a bow in her right hand and weightlessly riding two hounds. Through her figures, Frishmuth blended the old with the new, combining classical, idealized forms with the modern dynamism of Art Deco.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2006-09-15
