CAST BY H. NOACK FROM A MODEL BY REINHOLD KARL FELDERHOFF, BERLIN, FIRST QUARTER 20TH CENTURY

Reinhold Karl Felderhoff attended the Akademische Hochschule für die Bildenden Künste, Berlin, in 1881 to train as a sculptor. In 1885 he was accepted by Reinhold Begas as a pupil in his studio, and he participated in some of Begas's large commissions, including the monument to Emperor William I (1892-7). Felderhoff's first works bear close resemblance to his teacher's style and were from then on regularly presented at exhibitions in Berlin. As early as 1885 he won a state prize enabling him to make a first study trip to Italy. A second journey followed in 1890-91. During this stay the artist met Louis Tuaillon, through whom he took part in topical discussions on art with artists who had gathered around Hans von Marées (by then deceased) and Adolf von Hildebrand.

One of Felderhoff's best-known works, Diana was first shown as a bronze statuette at the Berliner Kunstausstellung in 1898. Another bronze cast was bought by the Berlin Nationalgalerie and was subsequently exhibited at the 1900 Paris Exposition universelle. In 1910, the first life-size bronze version of the work was cast by the Berlin foundry of H. Noack and also purchased by the Nationalgalerie (inv. no. BI 300). Another life-size bronze cast by Noack is now on display in the Wröhmännerpark in Spandau. In 1917 Felderhoff carved a marble version, which was displayed at the Nationalgalerie from 1918-1928, before being moved to Brandenburg.