HIRAM POWERS (1805-1873)

Details

HIRAM POWERS (1805-1873)

'Faith', A White Marble Ideal Bust

signed H POWERS Sculp
27¾in. (70.5cm.) high, including white marble plinth

Literature

L. Taft, The History of American Sculpture, 1969 reprint, p. 67
K. Greenthal, P.M. Kozol & J.S. Ramirez, American Figurative Sculpture in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Boston, 1986, pp. 38-40, cat. no. 19
R. Wunder, Hiram Powers: Vermont Sculptor, 1805-1873, Newark, 1991, vol. I, p. 329, vol II, pp. 144-146, cat. no 175

Lot Essay

Powers was commissioned by an American gentleman, Marshall Woods, to create two new ideal busts of the sculptor's own choosing. Powers decided to portray the Heavenly Graces and he persuaded his patron to increase the order to three busts--Faith, Hope and Charity. Faith was modeled during 1866-67 and completed in August 1867.