Robert Wlérick

Purchased from the artist's son, 1984

Maquette to Monumental, Bruton Gallery, Somerset, 1984
Rodin and French Sculpture, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, 1995
The Quiet Revolution, Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, 2005

The bronze is in excellent condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Robert Wlérick was the son of a cabinet maker and antiques dealer. His sculptural ambitions led him to Paris in 1906 and, following in the footsteps of Rodin and Bourdelle, Wlérick briefly joined the workshop of Falguière before setting up his own studio. He first exhibited at the Salon in 1907, but it was his plaster figure La Petite Landaise which won for him the public praise of Rodin, when he exhibited it at the Salon of 1912:

'I am amazed that you have succeeded in bringing this work to such a finish and yet have retained such spontaneity. It is beautiful, like a Donatello.'

Wlérick's Torse de Zeus was a development from his earlier complete figure of the Greek god, executed in 1936. Here he has taken the idealised form to an abstracted simplicity, to create a stylish and powerful motif.

RELATED LITERATURE
Robert Wlérick (1982), no. 66; Robert Wlérick (1976), unpaginated