George Bernard

George Grey Barnard

Born 1863, Bellefonte, PA

Died 1938, New York, NY

 

Beautiful and powerful depictions of the human figure were George Grey Barnard’s forte.  His concern with the play of light upon the surface of his objects resulted in figures having a dream-like quality of dark and shadow, luminescence and purity.  This serene female figure is an example of Barnard’s genius.  He wrote to Archer Huntington: “This morning a clip came showing the Maidenhood in your Carolina gardens.  I am happy to know you adopted the orphan.  I finished that marble in a way I finished no other flesh.”  This is the only example of the full sculpture.  A head in marble, carved after the figure was completed, is in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.  According to Barnard, the pose – a candid one taken by the model at rest – was as faithful an interpretation of the living model as he could create.  He described the work as being “nature in divine balance.”

 

Maidenhood

White marble, 1896

36 x 42 x 25½ in.

S.1935.003