69024: Franz von Stuck (German, 1863-1928) Thronender B
Franz von Stuck (German, 1863-1928) Thronender Beethoven, 1909 Bronze with verdigris 10-1/2 inches (26.6 cm) high Inscribed on base with 'C. Leyrer München' mark: Beethoven / Franz / Von / Stuck Property from the Estate of Bettina Ann Brumbaugh, Plano, Texas The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by Albert Ritthaler, Archive Franz von Stuck, on the basis of photographs. Painter, sculptor, designer and co-founder of the Munich Secession, Franz von Stuck first lit up the art world in the 1890s with his sensual imagery and his modern take on classical mythology. He had studied at the august Munich Academy from 1881 to 1885, but his deep appreciation for the classical world most likely began somewhat later, with his visit to Rome in 1890 in the company of Max Klinger, German Symbolist painter and sculptor. Indeed, von Stuck's interest in creating sculpture can be firmly traced to that time and continued throughout his career. Von Stuck's works included classic heroic figures and Archaic-static female forms as well as a design for a Beethoven monument, the present work Thronender Beethoven. The admiration was widespread for this great musical genius at the turn of the 20th century: in 1902 the Viennese artistic world celebrated Beethoven on the 75th anniversary of his death at the 14th Vienna Secession exhibition for which Gustav Klimt painted the Beethoven Frieze and Klinger contributed a statue of the composer. Von Stuck himself had produced a high relief portrait sculpture of Beethoven in 1900 based on the 1812 life mask which is a portrayal of an artist caught in a moment of creative thought. While a monumental version of this sculpture was never realized, the design of an enthroned Beethoven, shown in classical garb and serious demeanor, captures the esteem in which the composer was held during the fin-de-siècle , and perhaps to this day as well. Like other representations of Beethoven from the period, von Stuck characterizes the composer in this bronze as a brooding genius with heavy brow, tousled hair and a penetrating gaze. As with all of von Stuck's sculptures, there is a lack of information about the precise number of casts produced. By some accounts this lot may be one of an edition of five. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Condition Report: Minor surface dust and rubbing in areas of high relief. Sculpture measures 10.5 x 5.25 x 4.25 inches.
Heritage Auctions strongly encourages in-person inspection of items by the bidder. Statements by Heritage regarding the condition of objects are for guidance only And should Not be relied upon as statements of fact, And do Not constitute a representation, warranty, Or assumption of liability by Heritage. All lots offered are sold "As Is"
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Franz von Stuck (German, 1863-1928) Thronender Beethoven, 1909 Bronze with verdigris 10-1/2 inches (26.6 cm) high Inscribed on base with 'C. Leyrer München' mark: Beethoven / Franz / Von / Stuck Property from the Estate of Bettina Ann Brumbaugh, Plano, Texas The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by Albert Ritthaler, Archive Franz von Stuck, on the basis of photographs. Painter, sculptor, designer and co-founder of the Munich Secession, Franz von Stuck first lit up the art world in the 1890s with his sensual imagery and his modern take on classical mythology. He had studied at the august Munich Academy from 1881 to 1885, but his deep appreciation for the classical world most likely began somewhat later, with his visit to Rome in 1890 in the company of Max Klinger, German Symbolist painter and sculptor. Indeed, von Stuck's interest in creating sculpture can be firmly traced to that time and continued throughout his career. Von Stuck's works included classic heroic figures and Archaic-static female forms as well as a design for a Beethoven monument, the present work Thronender Beethoven. The admiration was widespread for this great musical genius at the turn of the 20th century: in 1902 the Viennese artistic world celebrated Beethoven on the 75th anniversary of his death at the 14th Vienna Secession exhibition for which Gustav Klimt painted the Beethoven Frieze and Klinger contributed a statue of the composer. Von Stuck himself had produced a high relief portrait sculpture of Beethoven in 1900 based on the 1812 life mask which is a portrayal of an artist caught in a moment of creative thought. While a monumental version of this sculpture was never realized, the design of an enthroned Beethoven, shown in classical garb and serious demeanor, captures the esteem in which the composer was held during the fin-de-siècle , and perhaps to this day as well. Like other representations of Beethoven from the period, von Stuck characterizes the composer in this bronze as a brooding genius with heavy brow, tousled hair and a penetrating gaze. As with all of von Stuck's sculptures, there is a lack of information about the precise number of casts produced. By some accounts this lot may be one of an edition of five. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Condition Report: Minor surface dust and rubbing in areas of high relief. Sculpture measures 10.5 x 5.25 x 4.25 inches.
Heritage Auctions strongly encourages in-person inspection of items by the bidder. Statements by Heritage regarding the condition of objects are for guidance only And should Not be relied upon as statements of fact, And do Not constitute a representation, warranty, Or assumption of liability by Heritage. All lots offered are sold "As Is"
Sale price
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
