DOI Heft:
No. 343 (October 1921)
DOI Artikel:Gallatin, Albert E.: An American sculptor: Paul Manship
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21393#0158
AN AMERICAN SCULPTOR : PAUL MANSHIP
the following excellent observations con-
cerning this indebtedness to the Greeks :
" Mr. Manship has, as it were, at his finger-
ends the archaic, the ripe Greek, the
archaistic ; and uses these styles with great
ease and charm to express his own concep-
tions. . . . These conceptions are the
artist's own, and they are realized with a
vivacious truth that comes from individual
vision even more than from closely-
reasoned interpretation of the subject." a
Later on Mr. Manship came under the
spell of Indian art, which exerted a pro-
found influence. In Western art one rarely
finds the smoothness and vitality possessed
by the figures in his Dancer and Gazelles,
while in his Sundial—Time and Hours and
The Flight of Night—the importance which
the Indian artist attaches to gesture is
reflected. Mr. Manship's astonishing com-
mand of rhythm is shown to advantage in
his recent statue of Diana and her hound,
one of his works which has been chosen for
reproduction. In these creations, as in all
of Manship's sculpture, one remarks the
artist's perfection of craftsmanship and
wealth of exquisite detail, which enhances
rather than detracts from the ensemble. The
superb patina on both Manship's bronzes
and marbles also plays its part in bringing
about the realization of his aims, a a
Manship's enthusiasm for the radiant art
of the Italian Renaissance is displayed in
such a work of his as the portrait bust of his
daughter, executed when she was but three
weeks old. Modelled with all the tender-
ness shown by Donatello, Rossellino and
Andrea Delia Robbia in their bambini,
although too young to be as cherubic, this
little marble head, set in its elaborate
Renaissance niche of enamelled bronze, is
surely one of the vital works of art of our
epoch. This bust, and the sculptor's recent
head of Mr. Rockefeller, as well as others,
show us that Manship is capable of intro-
ducing realistic qualities into his work ;
the human quality of his group entitled
Little Brother is very ingratiating. In addi-
tion to his works in the round which derive
their inspiration from the sculpture of the
Italian Renaissance, Manship has executed
a large number of medals. Several of these
medals are really very splendid and carry
on the best traditions of the medallists' art;
•often, however, one feels that the artist has
142
gazed too intently upon the medals of
Pisanello, and that the conception is not
altogether his own. 0 a a a
Having now attained such mastery of his
material, and such a knowledge of the tra-
ditions of sculpture, while still a young
man, one may not unreasonably expect
that Manship will push on to still greater
achievement. I believe that if he does the
path will lie through a greater study of
nature. The great Rodin continually re-
DOOR PULL. BY
PAUL MANSHIP
the following excellent observations con-
cerning this indebtedness to the Greeks :
" Mr. Manship has, as it were, at his finger-
ends the archaic, the ripe Greek, the
archaistic ; and uses these styles with great
ease and charm to express his own concep-
tions. . . . These conceptions are the
artist's own, and they are realized with a
vivacious truth that comes from individual
vision even more than from closely-
reasoned interpretation of the subject." a
Later on Mr. Manship came under the
spell of Indian art, which exerted a pro-
found influence. In Western art one rarely
finds the smoothness and vitality possessed
by the figures in his Dancer and Gazelles,
while in his Sundial—Time and Hours and
The Flight of Night—the importance which
the Indian artist attaches to gesture is
reflected. Mr. Manship's astonishing com-
mand of rhythm is shown to advantage in
his recent statue of Diana and her hound,
one of his works which has been chosen for
reproduction. In these creations, as in all
of Manship's sculpture, one remarks the
artist's perfection of craftsmanship and
wealth of exquisite detail, which enhances
rather than detracts from the ensemble. The
superb patina on both Manship's bronzes
and marbles also plays its part in bringing
about the realization of his aims, a a
Manship's enthusiasm for the radiant art
of the Italian Renaissance is displayed in
such a work of his as the portrait bust of his
daughter, executed when she was but three
weeks old. Modelled with all the tender-
ness shown by Donatello, Rossellino and
Andrea Delia Robbia in their bambini,
although too young to be as cherubic, this
little marble head, set in its elaborate
Renaissance niche of enamelled bronze, is
surely one of the vital works of art of our
epoch. This bust, and the sculptor's recent
head of Mr. Rockefeller, as well as others,
show us that Manship is capable of intro-
ducing realistic qualities into his work ;
the human quality of his group entitled
Little Brother is very ingratiating. In addi-
tion to his works in the round which derive
their inspiration from the sculpture of the
Italian Renaissance, Manship has executed
a large number of medals. Several of these
medals are really very splendid and carry
on the best traditions of the medallists' art;
•often, however, one feels that the artist has
142
gazed too intently upon the medals of
Pisanello, and that the conception is not
altogether his own. 0 a a a
Having now attained such mastery of his
material, and such a knowledge of the tra-
ditions of sculpture, while still a young
man, one may not unreasonably expect
that Manship will push on to still greater
achievement. I believe that if he does the
path will lie through a greater study of
nature. The great Rodin continually re-
DOOR PULL. BY
PAUL MANSHIP