Michael Combs

Man Up - Body Mask

2011

This contemporary plaster sculpture of a ram’s head is inspired by the art of Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece with a reference to Neoclassicism and Neoclassical period old masters, when the discoveries of archaeological sites became the focal point in art history between the 18th and 19th century. The artist is able to attribute incredible details to this work of art featuring a majestic appearance due to its large curling ridged horns. This animal figurative work of art is sculpted on the round, the artist took inspiration both from his imagination and archaic reminiscences. He modeled the inert chalk creating an animal with very real facial expression and incredible realistic features with intricate detailed head. This sculpture is the plaster cast hand modeled by the artist that served him as a reference model to create a bronze sculpture with the lost wax technique, also the bronze version is on sale on my page. So it represents the first phase of a fascinating and long process of creating sculptural art, a studio piece made as a maquette before a bronze version was cast. The present aries' head sculpture has been painted to simulate the green patina that archaeological metal sculptures take over the centuries. Two green patina sculptures...

APOSTLE GROUP ORIGINAL VERSION Flemish/Brabant Around 1500 Oak wood carved Height 37.5 cm, width 12 cm, Depth 12.5 cm

This 19th century big scale Italian animalier sculpure features a lion striding forward on a root-wood base, snarling with open mouth and expressive eyes enlivening its rippling mane with an extremely realistic sense of motion. The wooden statue, wonderful as a table top, is entirely hand carved in the round in a single block of solid olive wood, sign of high quality and sculptural artisanal mastery. An original whimsical and impressive centerpiece clearly sculpted by a true artist who carved the block of wood creating this figure of the proudest feline boasting a detailed study of the lion's anatomy.The features on the face, mane, muscles, tail and the paws are still distinctive and full of character as well as the beautifully carved stand. This sculpture boasts smooth surface and a warm patina developed over centuries and exudes wonderful quality and timelessness of the ancient world. The rich original patina brings further intrigue to its intricately carved details. This hand carved wooden lion statue is a great looking antique centrepiece...

MUSEUM PAIR FLYING ANGELS Brabant/Brussels Around 1500 Oak wood, full round carved Height 40/38 cm These two figures are a pair of flying angels mad...

Europe & Zeus (divine love) Europa the daughter of the Phoenician king of Tyre, Agenor and Zeus in love in the shape of the bull. Bronze, on onyx pedestal Signed: Bruno Zach

Standing angel with banner Flemish Around 1450/60 Sandstone 60 x 21 x 15 cm This museum figurine shows a standing angel with a banner in his right hand and a small box in his left. The youthful, ageless figure wears a coat held together with a triangular, floral brooch in front of the chest over a long robe. The angel’s gaze is directed forward, his head tilted slightly to the left. The elongated face is sculpted: the large almond-shaped eyes with accentuated upper and lower eyelids are alertly open and sharp eyebrows lead directly into the root of the nose. The straight nose above the pronounced mouth completes the idealized oval face of the angel and his calm, internalized facial expression. What is particularly remarkable, however, is the magnificent curls, which are only partially tamed by a simple headband. As if puffed up by the wind, the hair, which is sometimes streaked in parallel, sometimes wildly twisted and richly curled, stands out dynamically from the ears. The tilted head with these sideways protruding waves of hair thus conveys an immediate impression of movement. The physicality of the sculpture is expressed particularly through this organic, lifelike movement of the loosened hair. The lively overall impression of the figure is further enhanced by the multiple rolled banners that the angel presents to the viewer. The outstretched palm of the right hand appears both intimate and confidential as well as mystically revealing. This banderole winds in gentle curves in front of the figure’s body, throws a fold over the second attribute in the angel’s left hand and falls downwards in a loose manner. The volute-shaped rolled up end of the banner clearly shows the fine texture of the banner and at the same time draws the viewer’s attention to the small cube-shaped box that the angel is holding in its slender, long-limbed fingers. The cube is decorated with a Gothic quatrefoil motif, which is often seen in the architectural tracery of windows, but was also often used to decorate caskets and other small treasures. The sweeping gestures in the presentation of the attributes suggest three-dimensionality, in contrast to the tubular folds at the base of the neck and the intricate draperies in flat and multiple overlapping garment sections. The soft curves of the folds give the impression that the clothing is made of a heavy fabric that falls diagonally down the front and is laid in several bowl folds under the right hand. Overall, the sculptural work testifies to the highest artistic skill, which emphasizes the virtuosity of sculpture in its precious and representative overall impression. The memorable characteristics recognizable here can be seen in comparable pictorial works from Utrecht around the middle of the 15th century, when sculptural art – especially stone sculpture – was characterized by a remarkably high quality. Particularly noteworthy is the accentuated Utrecht head type with an elongated oval face, almond-shaped eyes with heavy lids and dense, vividly protruding tufts of hair framing the head. For example, the figure is comparable to a capital of an angel on the east side of the rood screen of the Joriskerk in Amersfoort (province of Utrecht) from the second quarter of the 15th century. Not only the physiognomy and hair, which in the comparative example stand somewhat more horizontally to one side, but also the garment puff above the girdle are similar. Even more related motifs, such as the cleverly placed bowl folds, can be found on the limestone figure...

ROMAN MADONNA “Sedes Sapientiae” Auvergne Around 1175/80 Pine wood Polychrome remains Height 40 cm This depiction of the Madonna is a masterfully carved, extremely early figure made...

Master in the circle of Michael Pacher (Mühlen ca. 1435 - 1498 Salzburg) Salzburg Around 1480 Carved limewood Old polychrome version Height 118 cm This Madonna is an outstanding ex...

MADONNA Il DE FRANCE/PARIS Around 1270 Oak wood carved Height 79cm

Sitting Madonna Central Italy/Tuscany or Marche Around 1420 Poplar wood carved Original version Height 31 cm Charming Madonna sculpture from the heyday of the Soft or International...