Lot 229

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

This small sculpture is a variant of the larger-than-life bronze statue that the artist created in 1918 after returning from the war. There are several other versions and studies that Štursa worked on in 1917–18, which were exhibited at the Exhibition of the Life Work of Jan Štursa, organised in 1950 by the Mánes Union of Fine Arts. The work is considered an example of new classicism in modern Czech sculpture and, in the context of the artist's oeuvre, stands out for its form that emphasises the lyricism of the nude. Compared to his earlier work, we see a certain dematerialisation and lightening of form with an emphasis on inner energy. Original cast.