Demétre H. Chiparus, (Romanian, 1886 – 1947), patinated bronze model of a boy on the beach

Demétre H. Chiparus, (Romanian, 1886 - 1947), patinated bronze model of a boy on the beach, the boy portrayed nude and crouching, resting on his elbows, on a textured bronze plinth signed D. H. Chiparus and dated MCMXI, on a moulded rectangular green, likely verde antico marble base with plaque inscribed "A NOCINO"

14 cm high, 26 cm wide

CATALOGUE NOTES: Romanian sculptor Demétre Chiparus spent most of his career in Paris, and is considered one of the most important sculptors of the Art Deco period. Known mostly for his highly stylised chryselephantine models of dancing and reclining maidens, this realistically modelled boy sheds light on the sculptor's earlier work. Dated 1911, the present model likely predates Chiparus' move to Paris and may have been made during his sojourn in Italy, where he studied with sculptor Raffaello Romanelli between 1909 - 1912. The interest in realism as well as classical poses (the crouching figure can for example be related to the famous Roman 'Dying Gaul'), shows the influence of Italian sculpture on Chiparus' work. Within a few years, this realism would give way to the elegant, elongated lines of Art Deco