Lot 225: Marta Colvin, (Chilean, 1907-1995), "Sans Titre", patinated bronze articulated sculpture, overall h. 16-1/8", w. 9", d. 4-1/4"

Marta Colvin
(Chilean, 1907-1995)

"Sans Titre"

patinated bronze articulated sculpture
incised signature at back, on a black square presentation base.
overall h. 16-1/8", w. 9", d. 4-1/4"

Provenance: Descended in the family of the artist.

Other Notes: Born in Chile of Irish and Portuguese parentage, Colvin attended the Art School of the Universidad de Chile in Santiago. She worked with sculptors Lorenzo Dominguez (1901-1963) and Julio Vasquez Cortes before receiving a scholarship to study in France at L'Academie de la Grande Chaumiere in Paris with Ossip Zadkine (1890-1967) and Henri Laurens (1885-1954). In 1952 she attended the Slade School of Fine Art in London where she met Henry Moore (1898-1986), who encouraged her to look to the beauty of Chile and its rich heritage. Inspired by the terrain of her native country, Colvin moved away from a realist approach and soon began to create works whose elements were distilled to their organic forms. These often large-scaled sculptures in wood, stone and metal are multi-layered and richly textured. As seen with the smaller scale sculpture offered here, her work frequently incorporates deeply incised, moveable elements.

Colvin's first solo exhibition was in 1954 in Paris. She was the recipient of numerous prestigious awards including the 1965 Grand Prix of Sao Paulo Biennale and the Chilean National Art Prize in 1970.

References: Jianou, Ionel La Sculpture Moderne en France depuis 1950. Arted Editions d'Art: Paris, 1982.; "The Centenary of Marta Colvin". El Mercurio. February 3, 2007. www.emol.com.