Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957), La jeune fille sophistiquée (Portrait de Nancy Cunard)

Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957)
La jeune fille sophistiquée (Portrait de Nancy Cunard)
signed, dated and inscribed ‘C Brancusi 1928 1932 PARIS PAR’ (on the underside of the bronze)
polished bronze with artist's carved marble base
Height (overall): 31 ½ in. (80 cm.)
Height (without base): 21 ¾ in. (55.1 cm.)
Conceived in 1928 and cast in 1932; unique

Pre-Lot Text
Brancusi was always a bright star in the collecting odyssey of our parents, Frederick and Elizabeth Stafford. Perhaps something to do with the fact that Brancusi had emigrated from Romania, traveled to many countries and finally settled in Paris, just as our father Fred had. When a Romanian friend suggested that Fred should go and visit Brancusi’s studio in Paris, it seemed like a good idea: not only could they share stories of their past and speak in Romanian, but as his friend had hinted, Brancusi could also use the cash—even if Brancusi was known to be reluctant to sell his work.
In late 1954, Fred went to Brancusi’s studio with Mimi, as our mother was called, who had just turned 26. A New Orleans native with a knowledge of French, she shared our father’s growing passion for collecting art. They had just recently married, a year after meeting on a long trans-Atlantic ship going to Le Havre. As a young bride, Mimi had suddenly been thrown into the elegance of Paris with Fred’s worldly friends, and she tried to look as sophisticated as she could. Her idea of elegance was wearing a simple tailored black dress and a single row pearls at her neck, holding her beige calf-skin gloves that matched her lizard purse in her hand, and walking in low heeled shoes.
Fred and Mimi entered Brancusi’s studio and were overwhelmed with the chalkiness of the air. Dozens of marble and wood items sprawled in a maze in front of them, used utensils hung on the walls and there was little room to move around. It took a few minutes for our parents to absorb what they saw. A bright light came through overhead and nearly blinded them—then Brancusi appeared. By now he had a scruffy white beard and a mass of disheveled hair; his pants looked old and dirty. Yet Brancusi was charming—he complimented and flirted with Mimi and then went off with Fred to talk. Mimi didn’t quite know where to sit as what little furniture was there, had a layer of marble dust on it. She looked around. There was a small dusty cot in the studio. Was that where Brancusi slept?
The art around them was astounding. Some looked similar to the African pieces she and Fred had just bought. There was creativity, history and passion here. It was a moment Mimi would never forget. Fred came back the next day and selected La jeune fille sophistiquée (Portrait de Nancy Cunard) as a birthday gift for Mimi. A perfect sculpture for his new wife: a young lady who would become a sophisticated, worldly collector and lover of art.
Ten years later, the Brancusi was the star at the New Orleans exhibition where much of the art Fred and Mimi had collected together was exhibited. The cover of the catalog of the show, “Odyssey of an Art Collector”, juxtaposed a sleek marble Cycladic figure with the bold silhouette of La jeune fille sophistiquée (Portrait de Nancy Cunard). A TV crew interviewed Fred and Mimi as they walked in the galleries of the museum. In the segment, Mimi confidently wears the latest Paris fashion and hairdo. She is erudite, elegant, poised and speaks passionately about the art around her and the Brancusi. She is sophisticated.
Brancusi’s La jeune fille sophistiquée (Portrait de Nancy Cunard) graced their New York and Paris apartments. It shined at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Modern Art galleries. It helped to raise funds for the damage done to the New Orleans Museum of Art after Hurricane Katrina, by being the centerpiece of an exhibition fundraiser in New York.
And now, she continues her journey.
E. Alexandra Stafford
Alexander M. Stafford
John F. Stafford
Property from the Collection of Elizabeth Stafford