Reuben Nakian

Leda and the Swan, Bronze Sculpture by Reuben Nakian

1978

Artist: Prince Monyo Simon Mihailescu-Nasturel, Romanian Title: Ballerina Dancer Medium: Bronze Sculpture, signature and number inscribed Edition: 1...

Artist: Sandro Chia (Italian, b. 1946) Title: Angel with Heart (large) Year: circa 1980 Edition: 2/6 Medium: Bronze, signature and numbering inscribed Size: 29 x 14 x 7 in. (73.66 ...

Arturo Di Modica, Italian/American (1941 - ) - Abstract Figures, Year: 1980-81, Medium: Bronze sculpture, signature, numbering and date inscribed, Edition: 1/1, Size: 55 x 36 x 3...

Artist: Alva Studios Title: Venus Year: 1928 Medium: Bronze Sculpture Size: 17 in. x 7 in. x 5 in. (43.18 cm x 17.78 cm x 12.7 cm)

SALE ONE WEEK ONLY “Leda and the Swan” is by Reuben Nakian (1897 - 1986). He was an American sculptor and teacher of Armenian extraction. His works’ recurring themes are from Greek and Roman mythology. Nakian’s small bronzes achieve majesty and power which are not dependent on size and amplitude. With characteristic freshness, he has reinterpreted the classical subject of Leda and the Swan refining it in the Classical-Renaissance-Baroque tradition in a contemporary way. Dr. Robert P. Metzger gives us his aesthetic interpretation of this work which retells the myth in classical hedonism and freedom of expression showing Leda and the Swann prior to her being ravaged and during their first meeting. “The young virgin is fascinated with her new found friend and accepts him in a spirit of playfulness, contentment and wonder. She is dreamily available and shyly seductive as the deceptively tame swan snuggles up to her with its phallic-like neck.” Leda appears composed, placid yet open and available as compared to her more intense and passionate states in other of Nakian’s depictions on the same theme. This was cast at the "Renaissance Art Foundry" in 1978 and is so marked on the base being #5 of 7. It is believed that “no other sculptor of the twentieth century matched Rueben’s heroic renditions with the grand themes of Western Art. His erotic mythological figures exude a joyous energy of gesture and movement which place them among seminal sculptural achievements of the past one hundred years.” Nakian studied at the Independent School of Art in New York City previously known as the Robert Henri School … with Homer Boss...

Classical mythology is fraught with stories of sexual misdeeds by Zeus, King of the Gods. Often Zeus would fall in love with a mortal woman and then transform himself into an animal ...

Mogens Bøggild. Bronze sculpture "Leda and the Swan", 1950-1960. Dark patinated bronze. Signed with monogram 'MB'. Mogens Kruse Bøggild (11 June 190...

A monumental bronze sculpture in the manner of Alberto Giacometti. This wonderful sculpture of a "ballerina" has a great modernist Brutalist form. It is not signed, and we do not know the original artist. However, the abstract sculpture would look great in any modernist or contemporary setting. The travertine console table and signed Huang Gang...