FREDERICK WILLIAM MACMONNIES (1863-1937)

Details

FREDERICK WILLIAM MACMONNIES (1863-1937)

'Venus and Adonis', A Bronze Group

inscribed 'F. MacMonnies. 1895.' and impressed with the Gruet foundry seal
28 1/8in. (71.5cm.) high, rich reddish brown patina

Literature

National Sculpture Society, Exhibition of American Sculpture Catalogue, New York, April 14-August 1, 1923, pp. 154-155, illus. for the marble
B.G. Proske, Brookgreen Gardens Sculpture, Murrell's Inlet, South Carolina, 1968 reprint, p. 36

Lot Essay

A lifesize marble example (6 ft. 7in. high) was exhibited in the Paris Universal Exposition of 1900 and again in the National Sculpture Society exhibition of 1923. According to Beatrice Proske, it caused quite a stir in the United States and "when it was sent up to an exhibition at New Rochelle, it was covered with cloth for fear its unabashed nudity might shock visitors". (Proske, p. 36) This marble was given to Brookgreen Gardens by Mrs. MacMonnies in 1959.