Lot Essay
Bill was the caretaker of several artist's studios including those of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Herbert Adams and Malvina Hoffman. He also worked as a model for his employers and their friends.
Conceived in 1923, Bill Working, was cast in an edition of twelve. Of these, nine, including the present example and another in the Springfield Museum, were lifetime casts. In a letter to the Museum dated December 22, 1943 discussing the model, Malvina Hoffman wrote, "As he dignified any work that he undertook by his pride in good workmanship, I tried to express this dignity of labor in the bronze. You can readily see that he insisted on every piece of equipment being included, the floor scraper in his pocket, his big soft rag, his pail and the wilted cigarette." (Hill, p. 41)
Conceived in 1923, Bill Working, was cast in an edition of twelve. Of these, nine, including the present example and another in the Springfield Museum, were lifetime casts. In a letter to the Museum dated December 22, 1943 discussing the model, Malvina Hoffman wrote, "As he dignified any work that he undertook by his pride in good workmanship, I tried to express this dignity of labor in the bronze. You can readily see that he insisted on every piece of equipment being included, the floor scraper in his pocket, his big soft rag, his pail and the wilted cigarette." (Hill, p. 41)