Richard Guino (French, 1890-1973) Grand Maternité

Numbered, dated and signed '7/8 1920 RICHARD GUINO' on the ledge the base, at front; also with 'CIRE PERDUE/C. VALSUANI/PARIS' foundry stamp on the ledge of base, at the rear, bronze with dark brown patina
Height: 37 in. (94cm)
Width: 36 in. (91.4cm)
Depth: 20 in. (50.8cm)
Conceived in 1915, cast in 1920. Edition of 8, plus 2 Artist's proofs.

Provenance

The Artist.
The Estate of the Artist.
Collection of Mrs. Richard Guino, the Artist's widow, France.
Façade Gallery, New York, New York.
Acquired directly from the above in 1990.
Collection of Alan I. and Dianne Kay, Bethesda, Maryland.
The Estate of Alan I. and Dianne Kay, Bethesda, Maryland.

Literature

Jean-Pierre Seurat, L’Impressionnisme dans la Sculpture de Pierre-Auguste Renoir et Richard Guino, Éditions du Palazzo Bandera, Busto Arsizio, 1997, p. 131 (another, smaller, example illustrated).

Note

The work will be accompanied by a copy of a Letter of Authenticity signed by Michel Guino dated January 8, 1990.

In 1913, at age 72, French painter Auguste Renoir’s health was rapidly declining and rheumatoid arthritis greatly limited mobility in his hands. As his abilities waned, the Paris art dealer Ambroise Vollard suggested he try working with a sculptor, in essence, to “be his hands,” and assist with bringing some of his painting ideas to life as three-dimensional sculptural works. Renoir was particularly inspired by watching Aristide Maillol at work, the sculptor who had made a bust of the painter for Vollard in 1907. Maillol’s young student and assistant Richard Guino, a 23 year old Catelan sculptor was a natural choice as Renoir's helper. Renoir and Guino formed a collaboration that spanned four years and many works, with the younger artist joining Renoir at his estate Les Collettes in Cagnes-sur-Mer, in the South of France. Renoir’s health benefited from the warm climate and the two worked well together on Renoir’s projects for a time. Guino went on to have a sculptural career in his own right, certainly gleaning a great deal about form, fullness and sensuality from his work with the older artist.

Grande Maternité, a work individually by Guino, was conceived in 1915, in the middle of his productive collaboration with Renoir. Renoir himself had set out to explore the subject of maternity, enlisting Guino to create a sculpture of Renoir’s wife and first son upon her death. The natural beauty and timelessness of the maternal figure was of interest to both sculptors. Guino approaches the subject with an intersection of the classical and the modern, as his nearly life-sized maternal figure reaches and curves over her playful baby, the two figures meld into one. The movement and expression in the figures’ relation to each other, with toes upturned, baby’s curly hair tousled, exemplify a playfulness and sensuality in Guino’s work, as the artist seems to internalize Renoir’s teachings and expand upon them. The Grande Maternité from the Kay Collection offers a unique opportunity for the collector, as it is the first time this work has been offered at auction.

In overall very good condition, with a nice golden patina shining throughout. With green felt underneath the base. The right handside of the base is lined with black rubber, which can easily be peeled off. With several scratches on the back of the main figure (her lower back, above her buttocks, and to her right hips), with associated rubbing and scratching on the top base. With very minor rubbing on the extreme edges of the work, especially the toes. With accumulated dust and dirt in the crevices of the work, with accompanying light verdigris in some cases (see for example the area surrounding the baby's feet). Scattered pin-sized pits scattered across the surface of the work and light suirface scratches. Various surface discoloration at times (mostly minor and closer to the nooks and crevices of the sculpture). Main condition issue resides in accumulated, textured, white residue on the figure's proper left cheek, and the adjoining parts linking her to the baby, which warrantsd a surface clean and removal. See specialist's pictures for more details.

To receive additional images or for any other information, please email Raphaël Chatroux at rchatroux@freemansauction.com