catalog text
PANTHER WALKING" BY MAURICE PROST (FRENCH, 1894-1967)
Patinated bronze; signed "M. Prost" & "Susse Fres Editeurs Paris" to base; exhibited 1928
Item # 009PAC15W
A powerful and sleek model of a stalking black panther, this sculpture captures the essence of the Art Deco spirit with it’s mechanized minimalism and proportions.
A trained animalier, Maurice Prost was skilled at capturing technical realism while depicting his subjects with utmost austerity - Payne’s "Animals in Bronze” showcases a resting panther by Prost that perfectly juxtaposes this form, its perfect realism and inordinate detailing lending credibility to springboard into minimalism.
The present model is one of his most famous works, being finished in a nearly matte black patina and joined through the original Belgian black marble base. The edges of the stone are lightly ground to only hint at naturalism, the pure and gorgeous black marble stone cut with a slight taper in depth and a more evident height tapering. It is incised in the typical script on the base "M. PROST" and "SUSSE FRES EDITEURS PARIS".
Prior sale results:
- Sotheby’s, Paris, 2010, lot 36, 24 3/8” edition; achieved 10,000 EUR
- Freeman’s, Philadelphia, 2008, lot 76, 14 3/16” edition; achieved $ 6,875 USD
- Bonhams, London, 2015, lot 69, 64.5cm edition; achieved $ 10,654 USD
- Christies, London, 2011, Sale 3697, lot 264, 14 5/8” edition; achieved $ 7,022 USD
- Sotheby’s, Paris, 2007, lot 109, 64.5cm edition; achieved 9,600 EUR
Artist Listings & Further Reading:
- Art Bronzes, Michael Forrest, 1988, p. 220-221, half page illust. 3.171
- E. Benezit Dictionary of Artists, Gründ, 2006, Vol. XI, p. 425-426
- Susse Frères 150 Years of sculpture 1837-1987, Editions Susse Frères, Pierre Cadet, 1992, p.75
- Maurice Prost, Sculpteur et Peintre Animalier (1894-1967): Exposition Musée Municipal Robert Dubois-Corneau, Brunoy, April 10 - September 30 2007, pp. 25 and 46
- Maurice Prost Sculpteur Animalier (1894-1967), Pierre Kastelyn, éd. Concorde Art International, Paris, 1999, p. 15
Measurements: 14 5/8” L x 2 3/8” W x 7 1/4” H
Condition Report:
Trace verdigris to surface; light handling wear along ridges of back; polished, cleaned and sealed under wax; flea bite chipping to edges of stone base with large chip loss to one end.