Lot 218: After August Karl Eduard Kiss, German (1802-1865) A 19th century Italian marble sculpture of an Amazon

the Amazon on horseback attacked by a panther, on a naturalistic base inscribed L'AMAZZONNE, weathered, lacking right arm, left foot detached but present, lacking horses right leg, 82cm high (32" high)

August Karl Eduard Kiss studied at the Berlin Academy under Christian Rauch. He achieved worldwide success with his bronze version of the present group which is now opposite the Neues Museum in Berlin. That the present example originated from the marble workshops of Italy, where numerous reproductions of ancient works and the great masters were produced demonstrates the international and canonical status of the work. First modelled in 1839, the Moritz Geiss foundry then produced a life-size zinc version which was exhibited at the Great Exhibition of London in 1851 to international acclaim. The Art Journal critic described it as "undoubtedly the sensation of the Berlin exhibitors, it is a group of intense drama and power". A contemporary watercolour by John Absolon (1815-95) depicting the Berlin exhibitors shows the large scale and impressive effect of the group towering over spectators. (Victoria and Albert Museum 'View in the East Nave, The Amazon, by Kiss', Inv no. E.11-2007).

In 1889 the Fairmont Park Art Association obtained a plaster of the group and in 1929 the work was cast in bronze and now stands in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.