Der Läufer (Der Läufer Nurmi)

Details

Renée Sintenis (1888-1965)
Der Läufer (Der Läufer Nurmi)
signed 'R Sintenis' (on top of the base, to the left) and inscribed 'Nurmi' (on top of the base, to the right); stamped with the foundry mark 'H NOACK BERLIN FRIEDENNAU' (at the back of the base)
bronze with dark brown patina
Height: 16 ½ in. (42 cm.)
Depth: 13 ¾ in. (35 cm.)
Width: 6 ½ in. (16.5 cm.)
Conceived in 1924

Provenance

Anonymous sale, Sotheby's, London, 6 October 1982, lot 263.
Acquired at the above sale by the present owner.

Literature

Der Querschnitt, no. 8, 1926, p. 616a (another cast illustrated).
Deutsche Kunst und Dekoration, no. 59, 1926-1927, p. 48 (another cast illustrated).
H. Noack, Die Bildgiesserei Noack: zum dreissigjährigen Bestehen der Bronze-Giesserei Noack in Berlin-Friedenau im Jahre 1927, Berlin, 1927, p. 21 (another cast illustrated).
Kunst der Zeit, no. 2, 1928, vols. 8/9, p. 160.
Apollo, no. 9, 1929, p. 318 (another cast illustrated).
R. Crevel, Renée Sintenis, Paris, 1930, p. 50 (another cast illustrated).
R. Crevel & G. Biermann, Renée Sintenis, Berlin, 1930, no. 52 (another cast illustrated pl. 27).
Omnibus, 1931, p. 171 (another cast illustrated).
H. Kiel, Renée Sintenis, Berlin, 1935 (another cast illustrated pp. 50-51).
Verzeichnis der Kunstwerke in der neuen Abteilung der National-Galerie im ehemaligen Kronprinzen-Palais, Berlin, 1935, p. 17.
Aussaat. Zeitschrift für Kunst und Wissenschaft, no. 1, 1946-1947, p. 40 (another cast illustrated).
R. Hagelstange, Renée Sintenis, Berlin, 1947, p. 71 (another cast illustrated; titled 'Nurmi').
A. Jannasch, Renée Sintenis, Potsdam, 1949, no. 14 (another cast illustrated).
H. Kiel, Renée Sintenis, Berlin, 1956, p. 111 (another cast illustrated p. 35).
Festschrift Johannes Jahn, Leipzig, 1958, no. 166 (another cast illustrated).
Bildende Kunst, 1969, vol. 7, p. 367.
B.E. Buhlmann, Renée Sintenis, Werkmonographie Der Skulpturen, Darmstadt, 1987, no. 48, p. 158 (another cast illustrated p. 159).

Special notice

Artist's Resale Right ("Droit de Suite"). Artist's Resale Right Regulations 2006 apply to this lot, the buyer agrees to pay us an amount equal to the resale royalty provided for in those Regulations, and we undertake to the buyer to pay such amount to the artist's collection agent.

Sale room notice

Please note that Dr Ursel Bergel has confirmed the authenticity of this work.

Brought to you by

Ottavia Marchitelli

omarchitelli@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2980

Lot Essay

Dr Ursel Bergel has confirmed the authenticity of this work.

Renée Sintenis, a prominent figure within the art world of Berlin during the 20th century, is especially known for her portrayals of athletes and animals. Among her most renowned works is the Berliner Bär, a replica of which is awarded to the winners of the Berlinale, Berlin’s annual film festival. During her lifetime, she was noted for her unconventional lifestyle, and, before being forced to resign by the Nazi regime, she was the first woman to be named a member of the much respected Berlin Academy of Arts.

For the present sculpture, possibly her most emblematic subject, Sintenis was awarded the prestigious Olympia Prize in 1932. The subject represents the Finnish runner Paavo Nuurmi, nicknamed ‘Flying Finn’. Having won nine gold and three silver medals in long distance running competitions at the Olympic Games of 1920, 1924 and 1928, he was considered the greatest athlete in his category during the early 20th century.

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