Lot 87
Josef Mařatka (1874 - 1937) MAY

1909
bronze, marble
dimension without plinth
21,5 cm (h)
signed on the plinth: J. Mařatka

Starting price
20 000 CZK
   |   833 €
Price realized
41 000 CZK
   |   1 708 €
price without premium

Josef Mařatka created the first variant of the sculpture with the theme of Kiss in 1909. This was followed by the variants May First, Vlna and Ursus and Lygie from the same year. In all the mentioned sculptures, the relationship between two tightly closed figures is solved. Maratka in these small sculptures was based on the impressionist method of modeling acquired during his stay in the Augusta Rodina studio. Rodin himself has worked on the topic of the embracing couple several times. The offered sculpture made of patinated bronze has well-known verses from Macha's May on the plinth with an engraved laurel motif: "On the first of May -
the time of love."