Description:

Paul Howard Manship (American, 1885-1966), "Centaur" 1919 and "Eros and Psyche", 1937, 2 bronze plaques, each signed and dated lower center, dia. 5 in. and 5 3/4 in., framed together, overall 11 1/2 in. x 18 1/4 in. x 2 1/4 in. Provenance: Charles (1908-1994) and Paula (1912-2006) Manship, Baton Rouge, LA; by descent to their niece Nadine Carter Russell (1943-2022), Baton Rouge, LA. Note: Paul Manship knew he wanted to be an artist at the tender age of fifteen and after discovering he was color blind, abandoned painting for what would be an extremely successful career in sculpting. Manship received a degree from the Art Students League in New York and earned a three-year scholarship to study in Rome. His time in Italy would be key to his artistic formation. His Roman teachers exposed him to the classical arts of ancient Greece and Rome, while the museums of Europe brought the decorative arts of India and Mesopotamia to his attention. Manship took these influences and began to merge them with the modernist ideas of the time, although foregoing full abstraction and some of the more “radical” ideas of artists of the period. The result was a new and fresh art that had firm foundations in classicism and realism but stylized with modern touches and depth of meaning beyond mere representation. In referring to his art Manship states: “…and although I approve generally of normally correct proportions, what matters is the spirit which the artist puts into his creation—the vitality, the rhythm, the emotional effect." Critics of Manship’s work of the time occasionally referred to it as more “conservative” as compared to that of his peers, inferring only certain collectors would be interested, but this fear would prove to be unfounded, as he is now cited as one of the precursors to the Art Deco movement, influencing countless artists and illustrators, not the least of which was his assistant Gaston Lachaise. Upon his return from Italy, Manship was an instant success, with numerous landmark commissions around New York City such as: “Prometheus” in Rockefeller Center Plaza, the bronze gates of both the Bronx and Central Park zoos and the centerpiece sculptures of the 1939 New York World’s Fair, “Time and Fates Sundial” and “Moods of Time,” to name just a few. Likely gifts of the artist to his cousin Charles Manship of Baton Rouge, the small bronze plaques and other items on offer here showcase Manship’s interests in mythology and the challenge of capturing movement in sculpture. These small, delightful works emphasize the care he took in forming a rigid material into a dynamic, rhythmic composition. They provide a window into his approach and intent for larger works: “…[to] express movement in my figures. It's a fascinating problem which I'm always trying to solve.” His preoccupation with movement also can be seen in the book compiled by Paul Vitry, curator of sculpture for the Louvre at the time, displaying public and private works around Europe, as well as a beautiful photograph taken by New York photographer Ward De Witt of Manship lovingly admiring his sculpture of 1929 which today resides in the Smithsonian American Art Museum - “Portrait of the Artist’s Daughter, Sarah Janet Manship.” The critics of his day have been proven wrong, with Manship’s work not being merely of interest to “conservative” collectors but featuring in most major museums around the world and inspiring countless artists with his effortless ability to blend traditional and modern aesthetics. Ref.: “Paul Manship Biography.” Smithsonian American Art Museum. www.americanart.si.edu. Accessed July 27, 2023.

  • Condition: If Condition is NOT stated in the description of the lot, the absence of a condition report does not indicate the lot is free of damage or condition issues. Available Condition Reports will appear as an additional image. Condition Reports and photographs may be requested on items until the Wednesday prior to the auction. Bid accordingly. All sales are final, no returns are accepted on the basis of condition.

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September 7, 2023 1:00 PM CDT
New Orleans, LA, US

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