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Captain of a Galley - DK.155
*CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE" Additional Information: Provenance Derrick Joshua Beard Fine Arts Edward Williams Clay (American, 1799-1857) Portrait painter, caricaturist, engraver, lithographer, and etcher, Edward Williams Clay was born in Philadelphia in 1799. He began studying law and around 1825 he was admitted to the Philadelphia Bar. He soon left law for painting and became well known for his biting caricatures in Philadelphia. Clay was famous for his social commentaries on the consequences of the abolition of slavery in early Philadelphia prior to the beginning of the AMerican Civil War. He left Philadelphia for New York City in 1837 and shortly after went to Europe for further art study. He later gave up his artistic career when his eyesight failed. In his last years he held minor public office in Delaware. He died in New York City in 1857. - (DK.155) During the T’ang Dynasty, the adoration of the horse can be seen through their burial art. Horse models excavated from mausoleums of the period are among the most splendid and easily recognizable works of Chinese art. This gorgeous horse, caparisoned in a stunning array of elegant molded medallions along his upper torso and head and a stunning saddle blanket, all painted in a three colored, or Sancai, glaze. The Sancai glazing technique was first introduced around this time, making this sculpture even more impressive for the early refinement of such a complex technique. Furthermore, the slightly turned posture of the horse’s head and the open mouth are both features highly desired by collectors. Together, all these features combine to produce a work of art of stunning beauty and grace that successfully captures the admiration the T’ang Dynasty felt for this majestic creature. - (H.704) |
