Paul Manship

Why this artist matters now

Paul Manship’s sculptural works, characterized by their clear linear compositions and graceful economy of form, made him one of the best known and most successful American sculptors of the interwar period. Rising to prominence in the early 20th century, Manship rejected Beaux Arts naturalism in favor of a highly stylized simplicity recalling the archaic aesthetic vernaculars of Greek, Roman and Indian art. Manship is perhaps most famous for his large public commissions, including the iconic Prometheus (1934) fountain statue at New York City’s Rockefeller Center. Art historians recognize his pioneering style as a major precursor to the Art Deco movement of the ‘20s and ‘30s, and as a bridge between the academic style of the previous century and the radical modernism of the Post-World War II era.

Source: Sothebys · Trust score: 100% · Updated 1mo ago