Lot 97

Jan Štursa (1880 - 1925) GIFT OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

The small sculpture is a variant of a larger-than-life bronze statue created by the author in 1918 after his return from the war. There are several other versions and studies that Štursa worked on in 1917-18, which were exhibited at the Exhibition of Jan Štursa's Life's Work, organised in 1950 by the Mánes Society. The work is regarded as an example of the new classicism in modern Czech sculpture and stands out in the context of the artist's work for its form emphasising the lyricism of the nude. Compared to his earlier work, we observe a certain de-emphasis and lightening of form with an emphasis on the inner charge.