Lot 890: An American Bronze of "The Swing", 1916, after

An American Bronze of "The Swing", 1916, after Geneva Mercer (American/Alabama, 1889-1984), cast signature and date at base, inscribed "Roman Bronze Works, N.Y." at edge of base, height 16 1/4 in., width 8 in., depth 7 in. Note: A precocious artistic talent, Mercer was awarded a scholarship to the Livingston Female Academy (now the University of West Alabama) at the age of 15 At a 1907 exhibition in Birmingham, Mercer's work caught the eye of the Italian sculptor Giuseppe Moretti (1859-1935), who was then working in Alabama. Moretti offered the young girl an apprenticeship in his studio, where she remained until his death. Mercer eventually began to work with the sculptor on large-scale commissions, including the Patrick O'Reilly and Mary Cahalan statues in Birmingham, and the sculptures for the façade of the Centro Gallego Club in Havana, Cuba. Though much of Mercer's work is enmeshed with that of her teacher, on her own she produced numerous Classically inspired works including the Flimp Fountain at the Montgomery Museum of Art and the Julia Tutwiler Memorial. Reference: Jordan. "Moretti's Assistant: Alabama's Own Geneva Mercer." Birmingham Weekly. March 24, 2005