Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 8

Larger 19th Century Marble Statue of Hiawatha and Minnehaha

$41,358.34List Price

About the Item

Manner of Edmonia Lewis (American, 1844-1907): A large 19th century Carrara marble figural group of the marriage of Hiawatha and Minnehaha the Native American Indian couple strolling together, Hiawatha with his arm around his lover as they gaze into each others eyes, she wears a fur pelt slung across her shoulders, Hiawatha nude except for a fig leaf and carrying a (later) spear, on a naturalistic circular base carved with leaves and flowers, 127cm high Mary Edmonia Lewis was a quite exceptional woman, not only was she one of the few female sculptors working in marble during the 19th century, she was also the first woman of African-American and Native American heritage to achieve international fame and recognition as a sculptor. The restrictions female artists faced in the 19th and early 20th century were numerous, and for sculptors it was even more difficult to succeed as the physical act of moving and carving the marble was extremely strenuous. Lewis was born free in New York and moved to Boston in 1864 where she was finally accepted as a pupil by the sculptor Edward Augustus Brackett after three other sculptors refused to teach her. His speciality was marble portrait busts, and having crafted her own sculpting tools, Lewis began to produce busts of her own, eventually setting up her own studio. Inspired by the abolitionists she sculpted portraits of John Brown and Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. The Shaw family were so impressed with her depiction of the Colonel that they purchased it, and Lewis made reproductions of the bust which she sold for $115 each. She used these funds to move to Rome, where she spent most of her career. Here she enjoyed a successful career and continued to work on themes relating to black and Native American people but used the traditional neoclassical style to portray them, The present sculpture is unusual for just that reason, here a Native American couple are depicted in the Neo-Classical style, in a pose much more reminiscent of Cupid and Psyche, or Thorvaldsen's Venus and Adonis or Canova's famous group of the same subject. Lewis produced her own version of Hiawatha and Minnehaha, which is of similar style to the present group, which like our sculpture, used a visual language that her patrons were accustomed to and admired and yet depicted subjects that were more relevant to her own heritage.

Dimensions:
Height: 50.01 in (127 cm)Width: 26.78 in (68 cm)Depth: 24.41 in (62 cm)
Style:
Neoclassical (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Carrara Marble,Hand-Carved
Place of Origin:
Central America
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1880
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Some old restoration.
Seller Location:
Brighton, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: Batch 37 1stDibs: LU1227216871931

Antique 1890s Mounted Objects

Materials

Carrara Marble

LARGE 19TH-CENTURY MARBLE STATUE - 120 cm

$15,955

H 47.25 in W 14.57 in D 11.42 in

Italian 19th Century Alabaster and Marble Statue

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

An elegant and decorative Italian 19th century alabaster and marble statue of a Greek goddess Ariadne seated on her panther. Gazing towards her left while her elbow rests on her pant...

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Alabaster, Marble

Italian 19th Century Alabaster and Marble Statue

$13,800

H 17 in W 13.75 in D 6 in

19th Century French Bronze and Marble Statue

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Signed. Very fine details.

Category

Antique 19th Century French Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze

19th Century French Bronze and Marble Statue

$3,250

H 8 in W 2.25 in D 2.25 in

Continental 19th Century Neoclassical St. Ormolu and Marble Statue of Athena

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A most decorative and high quality Continental 19th century neo-classical st. ormolu and marble statue of Athena. The statue is raised by a plinth wit...

Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Continental 19th Century Neoclassical St. Ormolu and Marble Statue of Athena

$15,200

H 17.25 in W 4.25 in D 4.25 in

Pair of French 19th Century Neoclassical Style Marble and Ormolu Statues

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A striking true pair of French 19th century Neo-Classical st. black Belgian marble and ormolu statues of Cleopatra and Semiramis, signed Bouret 1874. Each statue is raised by an eleg...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Belgian Black Marble, Ormolu

Pair of French 19th Century Neoclassical Style Marble and Ormolu Statues

$14,900 / set

H 14.25 in W 8 in D 5.75 in

French 19th Century Neoclassical Style Ormolu and Marble Statue of Cupid

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

An exceptional French 19th century neo-classical st. ormolu and black Belgian marble statue of Cupid offering a rose to the Psyche. The statue is raised by an impressive black Belgia...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Belgian Black Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Neoclassical Style Ormolu and Marble Statue of Cupid

$38,900

H 23 in W 19.25 in D 10.75 in

Pair of French 19th Century Neoclassical Style Ormolu and Marble Statues

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A striking and high quality pair of French 19th century Neo-Classical st. ormolu, black Porphyry and fossilized marble statues of Minerva and Hermes. Each statue is raised by a beaut...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Pair of French 19th Century Neoclassical Style Ormolu and Marble Statues

$15,300 / set

H 23.5 in W 4.75 in D 5 in

Italian 19th century Bronze and Marble statue of Aeneas, Lausus and Mezentius

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A handsome and high quality Italian 19th century Neo-Classical st. patinated Bronze and Portoro marble statue of Aeneas, Lausus, and Mezentius. This impressive statue is raised on a ...

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Italian 19th century Bronze and Marble statue of Aeneas, Lausus and Mezentius

$16,800

H 14.5 in W 16.25 in D 12.75 in

A Large Terracotta Statue of Discobolus, 19th Century

Located in ARMADALE, VIC

A Large Terracotta Statue of Discobolus, 19th Century A Terracotta statue of the classical Greek 'Discobolus" by Myron. This particular figure is modelled after the 2nd century Roma...

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

A Large Terracotta Statue of Discobolus, 19th Century

$30,000

H 126.78 in W 68.9 in D 43.31 in

Italian 19th Century Alabaster Statue and Marble Pedestal

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A stunning and extremely high quality Italian 19th century Alabaster statue and marble pedestal. The statue is raised on a striking Italian 19th cent...

Category