GEORGE G. BOOTH LOAN COLLECTION

Abstract

Through the income of the William C. Yawkey, Octavia W. Bates and Henry A. Harmon Funds, a marble sculpture by Elie Nadelman has been added to the permanent collection, and has been installed in Gallery III. It is the head of a woman entitled "Reverie," and the tranquility of introspection is well expressed in the mysterious smile of the thoughtful, refined woman a smile inspired from within. The modelling is simplified to the greatest degree, yet retains the essentials of good construction, and in his departure from realism, and in the employment of rhythmical curves in carrying out his ideas, the sculptor has brought forth a singular repose and a delightful ideality in his creation. In an age when artists too often turn to brutal and exact representation of interesting phenomena, depending largely upon spirited evidences of handiwork for success, it is refreshing to find a sculptor who seeks to create pure beauty by known laws of rythm. Mr. Nadelman still further controverts his age and further augments the ideality of his figure by giving the marble a highly polished finish, sacrificing the obvious evidence of his skill as a modeller, for the completeness of his aesthetic impulse. Elie Nadelman is a native of Poland, having been born at Warsaw in 1885. After studying his art at home, he went to Paris, where he sought inspiration rather than instruction. His marked individuality is in a great measure due to the fact that he is self taught. An exhibition of his work was held in New York in the winter of 1916-17, consisting of figures, heads and animal subjects and his departure from the style of his time at once brought him into prominence. He has enjoyed a substantial success in this country.