1980s Bronze, "Helios, God of the Sun" Sculpture by Donald De Lue

Details

Description

One of the largest and most impressive bronzes ever sculpted by Donald Harcourt De Lue (October 5, 1897 – August … Read more One of the largest and most impressive bronzes ever sculpted by Donald Harcourt De Lue (October 5, 1897 – August 26, 1988) -- one of America's greatest sculptors of Art Deco monuments over the course of 50 years -- this bronze depicts a nude Helios, God of the Sun. The figure is strong and powerful, his head is turned to the side with his mouth open as if he were commanding the sky, and his head is surrounded by a golden aureole. De Lue's distinctive sculptures -- usually depicting nude, slender figures with exaggerated, Mannerist musculature -- changed very little from the 1930s to the 1970s. The artist apprenticed with Boston sculptor Richard Recchia, studied with Bela Pratt, and served as chief assistant to Bryant Baker before he launched an independent career. De Lue's first major commission was a set of powerful relief sculpture for the Federal courthouse and post office in downtown Philadelphia, which command the street to this day. He also sculpted the Boy Scout Memorial in Washington, D.C., the Rocket Thrower for the 1964 New York World's Fair, and many other monuments and relief sculptures across America. This piece was sculpted in 1955, and later cast under De Lue's supervision by the Tallix bronze foundry in 1986. The piece is signed on the base, and is mounted on its original marble base. See less