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Masterpieces: The Private Collection of S.I. Newhouse
CONSTANTIN BRANCUSI (1867-1957)
Danaïde
Details
CONSTANTIN BRANCUSI (1867-1957)
Danaïde
signed and stamped with the foundry mark 'BRANCUSI C. VALSUANI CIRE PERDUE' (on the side of the neck)
bronze with gold leaf and black patina
Height (excluding base): 10 7⁄8 in. (27.1 cm.)
Conceived and cast circa 1913
Danaïde
signed and stamped with the foundry mark 'BRANCUSI C. VALSUANI CIRE PERDUE' (on the side of the neck)
bronze with gold leaf and black patina
Height (excluding base): 10 7⁄8 in. (27.1 cm.)
Conceived and cast circa 1913
Provenance
Eugene and Agnes Meyer, Washington, D.C. and Mount Kisco, New York (acquired from the artist, April 1914, then by descent); sale, Christie's, New York, 7 May 2002, lot 27 (world auction record for any sculpture at the time of sale).
Acquired at the above sale by the late owner.
Acquired at the above sale by the late owner.
Literature
E. Pound, "Brancusi" in The Little Review, fall 1921 (another cast illustrated, pl. 13).
M.M., "Constantin Brancusi: A Summary of Many Conversations" in The Arts, vol. IV, no. 1, July 1923, p. 27 (another cast illustrated in situ in the artist's studio, p. 16; another cast illustrated again, p. 27).
C. Gideon-Welcker, Constantin Brancusi, Neuchâtel, 1958, p. 228 (another cast illustrated; dated 1920 and titled Mlle Pogany (Etude)).
I. Jianou, Brancusi, Paris, 1963, no. 102 (another cast illustrated; titled Miss Pogany).
A.T. Spear, "A Contribution to Brancusi Chronology" in The Art Bulletin, vol. XLVIII, no. 1, March 1966, p. 47, no. 47 (illustrated, fig. 7).
S. Geist, Brancusi: A Study of Sculpture, New York, 1968, pp. 44 and 219-220, no. 73a (another cast illustrated, p. 44).
S. Geist, Constantin Brancusi: A Retrospective Exhibition, exh. cat., The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, 1969, pp. 98-99 (marble version illustrated, p. 99; other casts illustrated, p. 98).
S. Geist, Brancusi: The Sculpture and Drawings, New York, 1975, p. 179, no. 87a (another cast illustrated in color, p. 70).
F.T. Bach, Constantin Brancusi: Metamorphosen Plastischer Form, Cologne, 1987, pp. 59 and 439-440, no. 115a (other casts illustrated, p. 60, fig. 81 and p. 439).
P. Hulten, N. Dumitresco and A. Istrati, Brancusi and The Concept of Sculpture, New York, 1987, pp. 94, 96-97, 104 and 287, no. 75a (another cast illustrated, p. 287).
E. Shanes, Constantin Brancusi, New York, 1989, p. 67.
A.C. Chave, Constantin Brancusi: Shifting the Bases of Art, New York, 1993, p. 204 (another cast illustrated, fig. 6.2).
F.T. Bach, M. Rowell and A. Temkin, Constantin Brancusi, exh. cat., Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1995, p. 124 (another cast illustrated in situ in Jacques Doucet's studio, p. 124; other casts illustrated in color, pp. 125-127; illustrated in situ in the 1914 exhibition, p. 128).
K. Graham, Personal History, New York, 1997, p. 36.
"Brancusi's Last Danaide" in Forbes (www.forbes.com), 8 May 2002 (accessed January 2026).
R. Varia, Brancusi, New York, 2002, pp. 121, 147, 269 and 271 (illustrated in color, pp. 122-123; another cast illustrated in color, pp. 124 and 147).
C. Gimenez and M. Gale, eds., Constantin Brancusi: The Essence of Things, exh. cat., Tate Modern, London, 2004, p. 88, no. 13 (another cast illustrated in color).
P. Mola, ed., Brancusi: The White Work, exh. cat., Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, 2005, p. 125 (another cast illustrated in situ in the artist's studio).
A. Parigoris, "Constantin Brancusi: Princesse X and Mademoiselle Pogany" in O. Wick, ed., Serra, Brancusi, exh. cat., Fondation Beyeler, Basel, 2011, pp. 171-172 (another cast illustrated in color, p. 173).
D. Frumuselu, Brancusi: Perceived by His Contemporaries, And Commented on by Posterity, Ph.D. Diss., George Enescu National University of Arts, Iași, 2016, pp. 33, 52 and 183 (illustrated in situ in the 1914 exhibition, p. 52; another cast illustrated in situ in Jacques Doucet's home, p. 34, fig. 30; illustrated in color, p. 184, fig. 246a; another cast illustrated in color, p. 184, fig. 246b).
A. Coulondre, ed., Brancusi: Art is Just the Beginning, exh cat., Musée national de l'art moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, 2024, pp. 73 and 273 (plaster version illustrated in color, p. 19; other casts illustrated in color, p. 73).
M.M., "Constantin Brancusi: A Summary of Many Conversations" in The Arts, vol. IV, no. 1, July 1923, p. 27 (another cast illustrated in situ in the artist's studio, p. 16; another cast illustrated again, p. 27).
C. Gideon-Welcker, Constantin Brancusi, Neuchâtel, 1958, p. 228 (another cast illustrated; dated 1920 and titled Mlle Pogany (Etude)).
I. Jianou, Brancusi, Paris, 1963, no. 102 (another cast illustrated; titled Miss Pogany).
A.T. Spear, "A Contribution to Brancusi Chronology" in The Art Bulletin, vol. XLVIII, no. 1, March 1966, p. 47, no. 47 (illustrated, fig. 7).
S. Geist, Brancusi: A Study of Sculpture, New York, 1968, pp. 44 and 219-220, no. 73a (another cast illustrated, p. 44).
S. Geist, Constantin Brancusi: A Retrospective Exhibition, exh. cat., The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, 1969, pp. 98-99 (marble version illustrated, p. 99; other casts illustrated, p. 98).
S. Geist, Brancusi: The Sculpture and Drawings, New York, 1975, p. 179, no. 87a (another cast illustrated in color, p. 70).
F.T. Bach, Constantin Brancusi: Metamorphosen Plastischer Form, Cologne, 1987, pp. 59 and 439-440, no. 115a (other casts illustrated, p. 60, fig. 81 and p. 439).
P. Hulten, N. Dumitresco and A. Istrati, Brancusi and The Concept of Sculpture, New York, 1987, pp. 94, 96-97, 104 and 287, no. 75a (another cast illustrated, p. 287).
E. Shanes, Constantin Brancusi, New York, 1989, p. 67.
A.C. Chave, Constantin Brancusi: Shifting the Bases of Art, New York, 1993, p. 204 (another cast illustrated, fig. 6.2).
F.T. Bach, M. Rowell and A. Temkin, Constantin Brancusi, exh. cat., Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1995, p. 124 (another cast illustrated in situ in Jacques Doucet's studio, p. 124; other casts illustrated in color, pp. 125-127; illustrated in situ in the 1914 exhibition, p. 128).
K. Graham, Personal History, New York, 1997, p. 36.
"Brancusi's Last Danaide" in Forbes (www.forbes.com), 8 May 2002 (accessed January 2026).
R. Varia, Brancusi, New York, 2002, pp. 121, 147, 269 and 271 (illustrated in color, pp. 122-123; another cast illustrated in color, pp. 124 and 147).
C. Gimenez and M. Gale, eds., Constantin Brancusi: The Essence of Things, exh. cat., Tate Modern, London, 2004, p. 88, no. 13 (another cast illustrated in color).
P. Mola, ed., Brancusi: The White Work, exh. cat., Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, 2005, p. 125 (another cast illustrated in situ in the artist's studio).
A. Parigoris, "Constantin Brancusi: Princesse X and Mademoiselle Pogany" in O. Wick, ed., Serra, Brancusi, exh. cat., Fondation Beyeler, Basel, 2011, pp. 171-172 (another cast illustrated in color, p. 173).
D. Frumuselu, Brancusi: Perceived by His Contemporaries, And Commented on by Posterity, Ph.D. Diss., George Enescu National University of Arts, Iași, 2016, pp. 33, 52 and 183 (illustrated in situ in the 1914 exhibition, p. 52; another cast illustrated in situ in Jacques Doucet's home, p. 34, fig. 30; illustrated in color, p. 184, fig. 246a; another cast illustrated in color, p. 184, fig. 246b).
A. Coulondre, ed., Brancusi: Art is Just the Beginning, exh cat., Musée national de l'art moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, 2024, pp. 73 and 273 (plaster version illustrated in color, p. 19; other casts illustrated in color, p. 73).
Exhibited
New York, The Little Galleries of the Photo-Secession (291), An Exhibition of Original Sculpture in Bronze, Marble and Wood by Constantin Brancusi of Paris, March-April 1914, no. 5.
Baltimore Museum of Art, 1974-1985 (on extended loan).
Washington, D.C., National Gallery of Art, Modern Art and America: Alfred Stieglitz and His New York Galleries, January-April 2001, pp. 156, 163, 166 and 530, pl. 40 (illustrated in situ in the 1914 exhibition, p. 154; illustrated in color, p. 166, pl. 40).
Baltimore Museum of Art, 1974-1985 (on extended loan).
Washington, D.C., National Gallery of Art, Modern Art and America: Alfred Stieglitz and His New York Galleries, January-April 2001, pp. 156, 163, 166 and 530, pl. 40 (illustrated in situ in the 1914 exhibition, p. 154; illustrated in color, p. 166, pl. 40).
Brought to you by
Rachael White Young
Senior Vice President, Senior Specialist, Co-Head of 20th Century Evening Sale
