Bronze with dark brown patina
Germany, circa 1914; cast posthumously
August Gaul (1869-1921) – German animal sculptor
Signed ‘A. GAUL’ and numbered ‘I’ on the base
Gabler 2007, p.203, catalogue raisonné no. 213
Height: 30.1 cm
Very good condition
In his animal sculptures the artist August Gaul was capable of capturing the characteristic of the portrayed animal in an unmatched manner; his bronzes fetch up to €78,000 at international auctions

This bronze figure by the German sculptor August Gaul depicts a recurring motif of the artist: the bear. This figure titled ‘Stehender Bär’ (Standing Bear), which shows the bear in a slim and stylized form on a stepped base, is one of a series of works in which Gaul represented these majestic animals in different positions and sizes. The attitude with outstretched arms is reminiscent of Gaul’ Berlin Bear, which the patriotic artist modeled at the beginning of the war.

Gaul’s sculptures are characterized by clear forms with an emphasis on the sculptural qualities. Thus the artist shows the animals in a calm position, revealing their innate character, without meticulously imitating nature.



The work is listed in the catalogue raisonné by Josephine Gabler under the number 213. A metal model of the sculpture (h: 31 cm) can be found in the foundry Noack, Berlin.



The base shows the artist's signature ‘A. GAUL’ and the numeral ‘I’. The figure is very good condition, the patina is a little rubbed din places. The cast-on base shows some nicks. The height measures 30.1 cm.



August Gaul (1869-1921)

The German animal sculptor August Gaul was born in 1869 in Großauheim (Hanau). He initially worked as a modeler and chaser and then studied at the Drawing Academy in Hanau. In 1888, he went to Berlin and worked in the studio of the sculptor Alexander Calandrelli. At the Berlin Zoo, he produced numerous drawings and sketches. In 1894, he began studying at the Berlin Academy of Arts and became a master student of Reinhold Begas, an important representative of the Neo-Baroque movement in Berlin. Gaul was one of the founding members of the Berlin Secession in 1898. He maintained friendly relations with Bernhard Heising, Ernst Barlach, Heinrich Zille and Paul Cassirer. In 1908, Gaul was appointed professor at the Academy of Arts.

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