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"Dark Nude, " Sculpture of Male Nude, Richmond Barthé, Harlem Renaissance Artist

About the Item

Beautifully sculpted and finished by America's most important Black sculptor working in a realist vein in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, this unique, very fine nude demonstrates Richmond Barthé's abiding focus on the male figure. Although the artist sculpted both Black and Anglo figures, this sculpture clearly depicts an African American man, slender and beautifully proportioned, wearing nothing but a necklace and amulet. Although he was a part of the Harlem Renaissance and had many important friends and clients -- including Langston Hughes, Ralph Ellison, Carl Van Vechten, Lincoln Kirstein, Paul Cadmus and Jared French -- his open homosexuality made it difficult for him to retain the prosperity and celebrity he might have otherwise achieved. The sculpture was acquired from Barthé by Louis Hecht, who owned a number of pieces by the artist; later, Hecht bequeathed the piece to Philip Rubin, whose label is still present on the bottom of the piece.
  • Creator:
    Richmond Barthé (Sculptor)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 13 in (33.02 cm)Width: 3.25 in (8.26 cm)Depth: 3.5 in (8.89 cm)
  • Style:
    Art Deco (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1950s
  • Condition:
    Repaired: Cracks to the back of the figure's legs, and loss to the painted finish of the neck, have been repaired and restored by a professional conservator. Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Philadelphia, PA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU865127600162
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