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Learn MoreA Patinated Bronze Statuette of William Shakespeare by Frederick William MacMonnies
- This is a rare scaled version of MacMonnies’ life-size Shakespeare statue in the Library of Congress
- MacMonnies created iconic works like the Columbian Fountain in Chicago and a bronze of Nathan Hale
- His few Shakespeare bronzes reside in prestigious collections like the Folger Shakespeare Library
- It was cast by the esteemed E. Gruet Jeune foundry in Paris
- Get complete item description here
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1863–1937 | American
William Shakespeare
Signed "F. MacMonnies" and foundry-marked "E. Gruet Jeune, Fondeur, Paris"
Bronze
Frederick William MacMonnies, one of America’s most celebrated sculptors of the Beaux-Arts tradition, crafted a timeless homage to William Shakespeare in this exceptional bronze statuette. This 29-inch-high example is a scaled version of the life-size statue commissioned for the Library of Congress in 1894 and installed in the iconic Main Reading Room in. . .
1863–1937 | American
William Shakespeare
Signed "F. MacMonnies" and foundry-marked "E. Gruet Jeune, Fondeur, Paris"
Bronze
Frederick William MacMonnies, one of America’s most celebrated sculptors of the Beaux-Arts tradition, crafted a timeless homage to William Shakespeare in this exceptional bronze statuette. This 29-inch-high example is a scaled version of the life-size statue commissioned for the Library of Congress in 1894 and installed in the iconic Main Reading Room in 1896. Cast by the esteemed E. Gruet Jeune foundry in Paris, the bronze’s warm dark-brown patina and exquisite form serve as a stunning tribute to the great Bard and the artistic brilliance of the sculptor who brought his likeness to life.
MacMonnies presents Shakespeare in contemplative repose, his stylus poised over an open book, exuding thoughtful inspiration. Every detail—from the intricately embroidered cloak to the ruffled collar and distinctive trunk hose—reflects a commitment to historical authenticity, inspired by the Droeshout portrait in the First Folio and Shakespeare’s funerary monument in Stratford-upon-Avon. Critics of the time praised the statue’s lifelike quality and dignified simplicity, with Scribner’s Magazine (November 1895) calling it “more humanistic and thoughtful” than any of MacMonnies’s earlier works. Other versions of this sculpture reside in esteemed collections, including the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. and the Grolier Club in New York.
Trained by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, MacMonnies was a prominent American sculptor and painter, a star of the Beaux-Arts movement. Born in Brooklyn, he trained under Augustus Saint-Gaudens and studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. MacMonnies gained international acclaim for works like the Columbian Fountain at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and the Nathan Hale monument, cast by the same foundry as ours, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection. Known for his dynamic compositions and blend of American and European artistic traditions, he spent much of his career in France, earning recognition as a master of monumental and allegorical sculpture.
Circa 1895
On base: 37 1/2“ high x 16” wide x 13 1/8“ deep
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Period: | 1816-1918 |
Origin: | America |
Type: | Sculpture |
Style: | Academic |
Depth: | 13.13 in. (33.34 cm) |
Width: | 16.0 in. (40.64 cm) |
Height: | 37.5 in. (95.25 cm) |
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Read MoreAt M.S. Rau, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.
Learn More