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Sally James Farnham bronze

(New York, 1876-1943), portrait bust of Pisanello (Italian, 1395-1455) atop an integral pedestal with medallion "Pisanus Pictor" (The Pisan Painter), signed "Sally James Farnham", foundry mark "Roman Bronze Works N.Y.", patinated bronze, 11-3/4 x 3-5/8 x 3-1/2 in. Good condition. Provenance: The Estate of the Late Margaret D. Gruger, Anderson, South Carolina. This bronze was likely made specifically for F.R. Gruber, one of the deans of American illustration art and a friend of Farnham's. In 1918, the third floor of a building at 57 West 57th Street housed the studios of Farnham, Gruber, Neysa McMein, Edgar Wittmack, Franklin Booth and Alfred Johnson. Unique bronzes which were given as gifts to these fellow artists have been documented. There is some speculation that this portrait bust may be of Gruber with some comparison, serious or comical, to the great early renaissance painter and sculptor, Pisanello. Michael Reed of the Sally James Farnham Catalogue Raisonne Project has kindly confirmed the authenticity of this bronze and will include it in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné.